Varroa mite impacts Australian pollinators – Rabobank report

Some growth in the number of hives occurred in the years preceding the 2022 varroa mite outbreak, Mr Vogel said, primarily in recreational beekeeping. “This slow growth falls short of the projected demand for pollinators in Australia, as we have modelled. We project a substantial increase in demand due to the expansion of commercial crop acreage requiring pollinators, particularly for tree crops such as almonds,” he said.

Mr Vogel said the bank had modelled a number of scenarios to determine the impact of varroa mites on Australian hive numbers, based on insights gained in other countries.

“These insights show that after a varroa mite outbreak in other countries like New Zealand and Canada, the hive numbers typically experience a significant decline in the first five years, followed by a recovery usually starting after six or more years,” he said.

The RaboResearch report said for Australia, if the situation mirrors the Canadian and New Zealand scenarios (an approximate eight per cent decline in hive numbers within four to five years), the pollination needs for 2025 would still be met. However, under the US scenario (a 25 per cent decline in hive numbers within seven years), they would not.

Mr Vogel said all scenarios indicate an Australian pollinator supply shortfall within three to five years due to the combined effects of the modelled varroa mite hive reduction and the strong growth of horticulture acreage.

“The trend is clear,” Mr Vogel said, “the growth in the number of beehives has not kept pace with the increasing demand for pollinators”. He said the small margin between the number of available pollinators and the calculated minimum required for effective pollination means Australian horticulture crops which rely on bees for pollination are vulnerable.

Beekeeping challenges

Mr Vogel said tight beekeeper margins might pose future pollinator challenges.

“Increased beekeeping costs, due to varroa mite measures and inflated inputs like energy and labour costs, combined with continued pressure on honey prices from heavy import competition, could potentially drive-up pollination service fees to counter a heavy reduction in hive numbers,” he said.

Prices for Australian-produced honey have been declining for years, nearing the levels of imported honey, the report says.

“Nearly 20 per cent of Australia’s honey supply comes from imports, 45 per cent from small Australian producers and recreational beekeepers and 36 per cent from large Australian producers,” Mr Vogel said. “In recent years, imports have increased, particularly low-priced products from China, Malaysia and Thailand.”

Mr Vogel said income from honey, wax, and pollination services is crucial for beekeepers. “However, beekeeping margins have been pressured by rising costs and declining honey prices. The additional expenses associated with managing the varroa mite further strain these margins and will likely lead to increased fees for pollination services,” he said.

Pollination strategies

There is a growing focus on the use of proactive pollination strategies, even among sectors that have traditionally relied on native bees and passive pollination, Mr Vogel said. “The expected scarcity of pollinators underscores the need for effective pollination strategies,” he said.

The Rabobank report notes several key measures which could help prevent a future pollinator shortfall – increasing beehive numbers, facilitating bee movement, adopting alternative pollinator strategies and improving biodiversity.

“Firstly, hive numbers per commercial beekeeper need to grow significantly, along with improved management of pollinators by horticulture businesses,” Mr Vogel said.

“Moving bees across state borders is also key, especially during the peak pollination period from July to October, to ensure a substantial inflow of hives into Victoria’s horticulture sector.

“And beekeepers and the horticulture sector also need to look at adopting alternative pollinator strategies, such as using technologies like drones or robotics, breeding self-pollinating crops, using and attracting more native pollinators and having horticultural companies manage their own pollinators.”

Mr Vogel said while the varroa mite presents a formidable challenge, proactive measures and innovative strategies can help safeguard Australia's pollination needs.

“Collaboration between beekeepers, horticultural businesses, and policymakers will be essential to navigate this crisis and secure the future of pollination services in Australia,” he said.
 

Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 125 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 38 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is one of Australasia’s leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 87 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.