Beyond the hive: Why varroa conversation must change

The conversation around varroa mite to date has rightly focused on protecting Australia’s honey bee industry. We have heard about hive losses, biosecurity responses, treatment challenges, and the impact this pest could have on beekeepers across the country.

But varroa also brings a new biosecurity challenge for Australian horticulture.

Last week, Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers was in Far North Queensland, meeting with growers and seeing firsthand the scale, diversity, and importance of the region’s horticulture industry.

For growers, reduced pollination is not just about bees. It is about crop outcomes, marketable produce, farm income, and the ability to continue operating viable businesses.

The question from horticulture is not simply how many hives may be lost. It is: what does this mean for my farm?

For many growing regions, pollination has historically been a service that has happened quietly in the background. Wild honey bees have provided an important service, and managed pollination has not been a routine part of production planning.

Many of Queensland’s crops have a strong relationship with pollination. Avocados benefit significantly from insect visitation to support fruit set and quality. Cucumbers, pumpkins and melons rely heavily on pollination, with rockmelons and watermelons requiring significant bee activity during flowering.

As varroa changes the pollination landscape, stronger partnerships between horticulture and apiculture will be critical.

That means ensuring growers have access to practical information about engaging pollination services, planning ahead, preparing farms for visiting hives and understanding what makes a successful grower-beekeeper partnership.

It also means recognising the challenges faced by beekeepers, who are managing a living asset through pests, disease, weather and seasonal pressures.

Because ultimately, this is about more than the hive.

Varroa mite is a shared challenge for horticulture and apiculture. The conversation needs to move beyond what we might lose and towards how we work together to build a pollination system that supports both industries into the future.