THE beekeeping industry says it has been left to shoulder the cost of the escalating varroa mite crisis after an emergency roundtable failed to secure immediate government assistance.
Bee All Natural’s Jason Roebig said the outcome confirmed the fears of commercial beekeepers already under immense financial pressure.
“We now have confirmation that both State and Federal Governments have no intention of bringing forward any immediate assistance to support the industry,” Mr Roebig said.
“The round table resulted in no beneficial support and the industry is expected to carry the cost. This is going to result in an exodus of pollinators from our industry.”
The comments come after the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) expressed disappointment with the outcomes of the National Emergency Honey Bee Industry Roundtable’s Decision Makers Forum.
While AHBIC acknowledged the constructive engagement of governments, industry and research partners throughout the process, it said the final outcomes fell well short of what is needed to address the growing crisis.
The forum followed a technical workshop where more than 55 proposals were assessed and refined into 11 priority actions covering industry stabilisation, treatment access, pollination security, workforce development, honey market integrity and research.
AHBIC Chair Jon Lockwood, pictured, said the industry had approached the process in good faith and developed practical, evidence-based solutions.
“Industry came to this process in good faith. We brought the evidence, we brought practical solutions, and we worked constructively with governments and partners to turn a broad set of issues into a consolidated pathway for action,” Mr Lockwood said.
“These actions were not a wish list. They were a carefully developed, collaborative and consolidated pathway designed to protect commercial beekeeping capacity, pollination security and food production.
“We acknowledge the engagement of governments and the time senior officials have given to this process. But engagement alone will not keep beekeeping businesses viable, hives alive or pollination services available for Australian agriculture.”
“Beekeepers are being asked to carry the cost of a national food production service,” Mr Lockwood said.
“This is not about blame. It is about whether Australia is prepared to treat pollination as the critical agricultural input that it is.”
