Mite fight gets tight
September 5, 2012
From: Stock & Land
HONEYBEE and pollination-reliant agricultural industries, researchers and government agencies recently came together at a workshop in Melbourne to fine-tune how the new National Bee Pest Surveillance Program will be rolled out to all states.
The program already contributes to surveillance through projects such as Bee Force – which has successfully recruited hobby beekeepers to monitor hives around the Ports of Melbourne and Geelong – and a project developing remote surveillance technology to allow bait boxes to be monitored from a central location.
Implementation of the program will harness the research results of the Pollination Program, a partnership between the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) to help improve surveillance methods in each port.
Chairman of the Pollination Program Gerald Martin said an exotic pest or disease incursion is a significant risk to food production, and research shows the most likely way they’ll arrive is by hitching a ride in ships and cargoes.
“Under the new surveillance initiative, the number of sentinel or bait hives at the high risk ports in each state will be boosted and testing of the hives for foreign mites or pests will increase,” said Mr Martin.
“The Varroa mite is the bee pest considered most likely to create havoc, and Australia is currently the only major honey producing country to be free of this pest.
“When it was first reported in New Zealand, Varroa was already endemic and estimated to have been in the country for up to three years.
“The objective of reinforced port surveillance is so we know much sooner than that. I would also like to acknowledge the great work done by DAFF Biosecurity and everyone working on the front line in protecting our borders,” Mr Martin said.
The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program will be operated by Plant Health Australia (PHA) in recognition of the importance of bees and pollination services to plant industries.
PHA’s Rod Turner, who chaired the workshop, said the industry is taking a very proactive approach to protecting borders and implementing early detection systems.
“This is the first time all the parties have been in the one room to sign off and agree on the roll out and funding arrangements for a national surveillance program.
“The industries and agencies will continue to work together to tailor the program to suit the specific circumstances of target high risk air and sea ports nationwide,” he said.
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