New honey bee compliance officers, a major R&D program and tailored education and resources are part of the Minns Government's $9.5 million NSW Varroa Mite Management program commencing in January 2026.
The program is part of the Minns Government's commitment to the state's honeybee and pollination-reliant industries.
The NSW Varroa Mite Management program, which will be delivered to June 2027, will include:
- $1.6m for an enhanced honey bee compliance program, including four new dedicated Honey Bee Compliance Surveillance Officers to ensure beekeepers comply with their obligations under the Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice
- $2.4m for a honey bee biosecurity extension program including the continuation of three Bee Biosecurity Officers - adding to the existing team to help beekeepers in NSW implement effective Varroa management and meet their obligations under the Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice. The bee biosecurity program will continue a surveillance network to monitor the impacts of Varroa mite across NSW.
- $1.1m for a comprehensive program of education and training resources for commercial and recreational beekeepers through DPIRD's Tocal College. These new initiatives will include a traineeship program to attract new workers to the beekeeping industry, chemical user training that is tailored for beekeepers and a short course on honeybee nutrition and seasonal management to support both honey production and pollination services.
- $4.4m for a program of research and development to address key threats and risks to beekeepers and pollination reliant industries in NSW, developed in consultation with industry.
This funding is on top of $58.4 million already spent by the NSW Government to tackle Varroa mite.
The NSW Government provides a comprehensive program of ongoing support for the honey bee industry, including NSW DPIRD Tocal College being the nation's leading provider of specialist education and training for the industry and home of the $2.8 million Bee Research and Training Centre.
European Honey Bees are vital to crop pollination across New South Wales, underpinning the productivity of many agricultural industries, including apple, berry and almond industries.
Varroa mite poses a significant threat, with international experience suggesting that pollination-dependent industries are likely to become increasingly reliant on paid pollination services.
This NSW focussed funding will play a vital role in supporting these industries through a comprehensive and multi-pronged strategy.
The new research and development program will focus on developing tools to help queen breeders breed varroa resistant bees, monitoring chemical resistance, assessing the diversity and activity of wild and managed pollinators in key crops and identifying best practice hive placement in orchards to maximise pollination success.
This information will be incorporated in a new education and training program. One-on-one extension support will also be available through Bee Biosecurity Officers, who can demonstrate hands-on tips for managing Varroa and promote industry best practice, while new compliance officers will ensure those beekeepers doing the right thing are not unfairly hindered by those who are not.
The National Varroa Mite Management Program (NVMMP), which was established in 2023 and has been led by NSW DPIRD, has delivered 121 beekeeper education workshops across the country, including 45 in NSW, and continues to be backed up by a suite of online tools and resources.
This includes a series of national industry webinars keeping impacted stakeholders aware of the impacts of Varroa and activities of the NVMMP. There have been 9 public webinars to date, reaching over 7,000 people across the country, including 2,729 in NSW.
For more information on the National Varroa Mite Management Program, including online tools, resources and contacts, visit www.varroa.org.au
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:
"The NSW Government is determined to ensure the great work and support that's been achieved nationally can continue at a state level.
"In particular, it will help continue to build industry resilience while supporting NSW honey bee industries to be future ready.
"Proactive control measures are essential to safeguard crop production and maintain the stability of agricultural supply chains across the state.
"With new training and support available, NSW beekeepers will be among the best equipped in the country to manage the mite."
