A national honey bee genetic improvement program will continue until at least April 2024, with Plan Bee announcing it has been extended for another year.
Delivered as part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Rural R&D for Profit Program, the program will continue its mission of establishing a national honey bee genetic database to improve the productivity and profitability of Australia’s agriculture sector.
The program, which began in 2020, has made significant progress in furthering the adoption of modern genetic selection practices in Australia.
Plan Bee Program Lead Paul Blackshaw said the extension allows the program to launch a series of planned initiatives that could have immeasurable long-term impact to the quality of Australia’s honey bee stocks.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the vital work of Plan Bee,” he said.
“We’re currently preparing to launch version two of the Plan Bee Breeding Manual, a vital resource which is already helping beekeepers and breeders to unlock the potential of modern science to improve the quality of our honey bees.
“This resource helps breeders select from desired traits, including pest and disease resistance, future-proofing the industry from threats like varroa.”
Beekeepers are encouraged to participate in the program, with the project team continuing to seek input from the beekeeping industry.
“We are always looking to work closely with breeders across the country to build our national genetic database,” Mr Blackshaw said.
“With each contributing bee breeder, our data set improves, allowing us to make better choices when selecting for traits.”
The benefits of a successful national genetic improvement program transcend the honey bee industry, with around 65% of agricultural production in Australia depends on pollination from honey bees according to the 2010 report Pollination Aware, The Real Value of Pollination in Australia.
“Whether it be pollination productivity, resistance to disease, or ability to stay active for longer, genetic selection helps bee breeders, beekeepers and growers to become more productive and sustainable,” Mr Blackshaw said.
Plan Bee Researcher, Nadine Chapman examining a colony of bees
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