Overview
- Pollination is one of Australian agriculture's most important, yet least visible, inputs.
- New AgriFutures Australia research warns the establishment of Varroa mite is putting increasing pressure on Australia's pollination system, with implications extending beyond beekeeping to agricultural productivity and national food security.
- The research calls for a more coordinated approach to strengthening Australia's pollination resilience, spanning beekeeping industry capacity, pollination markets, Varroa management and biosecurity, planning and governance.
New AgriFutures research warns the establishment of Varroa mite is exposing vulnerabilities in Australia's pollination system, with implications reaching well beyond beekeeping to agricultural productivity and national food security.
Pollination is one of agriculture's most important inputs, but it is also one of the least visible.
Honey bee pollination supports the production of fruits, nuts, legumes, oilseeds and seed crops across Australia, with its net economic contribution to Australian agriculture was estimated at $4.6 billion in 2924
But a new AgriFutures Australia report, Impact of Varroa mite on pollination and Australia's national food security finds the arrival and establishment of Varroa destructor is changing the equation.
The report, prepared by Ruadh Consulting and ViroEpiVet, found Australia faces a growing risk of pollination shortfalls as Varroa increases colony losses, weakens managed hives and adds to the cost and complexity of keeping bees. At the same time, the wild honey bee populations that have historically provided a significant source of "free" pollination are expected to decline.
The result is a challenge that extends far beyond the honey bee industry.
Pollination is a food security issue
The research frames pollination as a critical agricultural input supporting interconnected food supply chains.
Australia has historically benefited from a combination of managed and wild honey bees. As unmanaged bee populations decline, agriculture will need to rely more heavily on managed pollination services. However, the research has found the managed pollination sector is already operating close to capacity during peak production periods, with demand only rising.
The report warns that reduced pollination could affect how much food Australia produces, increasing costs for growers and putting pressure on food prices and supply.
Importantly, Varroa is not creating these challenges in isolation.
The research found the mite is acting as a system shock, amplifying existing vulnerabilities including limited surplus pollination capacity, pressure on beekeeping businesses, workforce constraints, immature pollination markets and fragmented governance.
Australia is entering a new era of pollination
First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, Varroa prompted the largest biosecurity response in Australian agriculture to date. By September 2023, eradication was considered no longer technically feasible and Australia moved towards long-term management.
The impacts are already beginning to emerge.
Early evidence indicates Varroa is contributing to colony losses and weakening managed hives. The report notes registered hive numbers have declined, while industry survey data indicates up to one-third of beekeepers, across commercial and recreational sectors, are considering leaving the industry in the near term.
The emergence of miticide-resistant Varroa populations in parts of QLD, NSW, VIC and SA in 2026 has added another layer of complexity to long-term management.
International experience provides some reassurance that adaptation is possible. Case studies examined by the research found pollination-dependent agriculture continued following Varroa's establishment in Canada and New Zealand, but with greater management intensity, higher operating costs and ongoing colony losses.
The challenge for Australia is ensuring enough pollination capacity remains available while that transition takes place.
Building resilience before the gap widens
The research identifies three immediate priorities: stabilising beekeeping industry capacity, accelerating development of the managed pollination market and strengthening Varroa management and biosecurity systems.
It also proposes a broader six-part framework spanning industry stabilisation and support, pollination market development, Varroa management and biosecurity, system understanding and planning, coordination and governance, and longer-term pollination resilience.
A key message is that no single industry or organisation can solve the problem alone. Governments, beekeepers, pollination-dependent industries and RDCs all have a role in building a more resilient system.
Perhaps most importantly, the research calls for a shift in how we think about pollination itself.
Rather than something that simply happens in the background, reliable pollination needs to be recognised as an essential input into Australian agricultural production and food security. The report recommends formally recognising pollination as critical agricultural infrastructure within national food security and agricultural policy frameworks.
As Australia learns to live with Varroa, protecting bees is only part of the task. Protecting the pollination services they provide will be critical to ensuring Australian agriculture continues to produce the food consumers rely on.
