Overview
- A new five-year research, development and extension (RD&E) Plan will guide investment in RD&E for the honey bee and pollination industry.
- The Plan prioritises practical solutions to support bee health, productivity, resilience and industry sustainability.
- More than 2,000 industry members helped shape the Plan's priorities through a comprehensive consultation process.
The AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program RD&E Plan 2026-31 has been released, providing a roadmap developed in close partnership with industry to guide RD&E investment over the next five years. The Plan sets out a clear direction for investment, targeting the priorities, challenges and opportunities facing Australia's honey bee and pollination sector.
AgriFutures Australia General Manager, Levied and Emerging Industries, Samantha Beresford, said the Plan provides a practical roadmap for investment at an important time for the industry.
"Developed in consultation with industry, this Plan provides a clear framework for investing in RD&E that supports beekeepers today while helping the industry prepare for future challenges and opportunities," Ms Beresford said.
"The establishment of Varroa destructor in Australia, alongside other biosecurity, environmental and market challenges, highlights the importance of targeted RD&E investment.
"This Plan prioritises research and innovation that will help beekeepers respond to emerging issues while building the productivity, profitability and resilience of the industry," she said.
A clear framework for investment
The RD&E Plan provides a structured framework to guide how levy funds are directed over the next five years. It identifies five priority areas for investment:
- Bee health, resilience and production
- New and emerging pests and diseases
- Agricultural integration and income diversification
- Floral resources and environmental conditions
- Product differentiation and new products
A strong emphasis of the RD&E Plan is ensuring that research delivers practical on-farm value. This includes a focus on developing tools, technologies and practices that are readily adopted by beekeepers, as well as strengthening pathways for extension and knowledge transfer.
Shaped with industry input
The RD&E Plan has been informed by a comprehensive consultation process, ensuring it reflects both current priorities and future opportunities for the sector.
More than 2,000 industry members were invited to contribute through a national survey, providing insights into key opportunities, challenges and emerging trends. This was complemented by targeted engagement with key stakeholders and the AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Advisory Panel. Scenario planning workshops held in Queensland and South Australia brought industry representatives together to test potential directions and explore future scenarios. Ongoing engagement with the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) further strengthened and refined the Plan as it evolved. A draft Plan was also shared more broadly, including through a webinar, allowing stakeholders across the industry to provide feedback prior to finalisation.
AHBIC Chair Jon Lockwood said RD&E remained critical to the long-term success of Australia's honey bee and pollination industry.
"RD&E plays a vital role in helping Australian beekeepers respond to current challenges and remain competitive and resilient into the future. This Plan sets a clear direction for investment in the priorities that matter most to industry, ensuring levy funds are directed towards outcomes that strengthen productivity, resilience and long-term sustainability," Mr Lockwood said.
He said the extensive consultation process had helped ensure the Plan reflected the needs and aspirations of beekeepers and the broader industry.
"One of the strengths of this Plan is that it has been shaped by industry. Beekeepers, pollination providers and industry representatives have had opportunities to share their views throughout the process, helping ensure the priorities identified in the Plan reflect the challenges, opportunities and needs of the sector both now and into the future."
Current research opportunities
Alongside setting strategic direction, the RD&E Plan also outlines how future investment opportunities will be delivered. This approach will enable investment in priority areas to continue while establishing a more consistent cycle for future funding opportunities.
The release of the RD&E Plan is already driving investment in priority areas. Two Requests for Quote (RFQs) are currently open on the AgriFutures website, focusing on the development of a workforce strategy for the honey bee and pollination industry and improving understanding of industry impacts . These projects will help build the evidence base needed to support future industry growth, capability and investment decisions.
The Program will also hold an Open Call in February 2027, with the aim of maintaining an annual call around this time each year. Further investment opportunities aligned with the Plan's priorities will be released over time, ensuring ongoing collaboration between industry, researchers and service providers.
Looking ahead
The AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program RD&E Plan 2026-31 represents an important step in shaping the future of research investment for the industry.
With a strong focus on practical outcomes, industry collaboration and adoption, the Plan provides a foundation for future investments that support healthy colonies, productive pollination services and a resilient Australian beekeeping industry.
Ms Beresford said the Plan recognises the importance of focusing investment where it can deliver the greatest value for levy payers and the broader industry.
"By focusing on industry priorities and delivering outcomes that matter to beekeepers, this Plan will help ensure research investment delivers measurable benefits and supports a productive and sustainable future for the industry," she said.
