No bees, no food: collaboration is crucial

The role of honeybees in supporting crop lifecycles is a fascinating and nuanced story. For example, you don’t need a bee to grow an onion, but you absolutely need a bee for onion seeds.

On a recent eye-opening tour of the beekeeping industry, we learnt the critical connection between apiarists and horticulture growers is demanding more attention than ever before—especially in light of challenges that threaten both industries.

The tour, which included an in-depth look at honey and wax extraction methods and a visit to an apiary nestled in the forest, provided firsthand insight into the intricacies of beekeeping. It highlighted the crucial interdependence between beekeepers and growers.

Varroa mite has been the most highly publicised threat to beekeepers since entering Australia in 2022.

And what threatens bees threatens horticulture too. With the pest’s incursion into Queensland in March this year, it is clear we must strengthen the relationship between our two industries to protect these prolific pollinators.

Beekeepers have shown they are adept at responding to a changing landscape. For instance, since 2019, pollination has emerged as a growing priority for apiarists, filling the void left by diminishing honey yields during drought-affected years.

But the challenges don’t stop with the varroa mite. In a candid conversation with Queensland Beekeepers’ Association (QBA) President Jacob Stevens and Vice President Bruce Ruge, it became apparent that the list of threats facing honeybees is long—and it’s growing.

While varroa mite is the most immediate concern, there’s a looming risk from deformed wing virus, a honeybee pathogen that could make life even harder for apiarists if it emerges. The combination of these threats could be catastrophic for the beekeeping community.

To help address these growing risks, the QBA continues to focus on biosecurity best management practice through its annual conference, member workshops, and education. Themed Beekeeping to the Future, the organisation’s 2025 conference places biosecurity at the heart of building a strong beekeeping industry that can continue to support agriculture in Queensland and beyond.

On top of the biological threats, there is also a growing concern about the loss of floral resources, due to expansion of urban areas and agricultural developments. Horticulture growers and apiarists alike must also grapple with the impact of natural disasters, which can decimate the floral resources that bees depend on.

Interestingly, the relationship between horticulture and beekeeping has become more of a two-way street in recent years. As growers see the immense value of pollination services, the demand for bees is growing. The key to ensuring a sustainable future for both industries lay in collaboration.

One of the simplest but most crucial pieces of advice shared during the tour was about “bee-ing” a good neighbour. Coordination between neighbouring growers is essential, especially when it comes to pollination and spraying. It’s important not to spray chemicals on nearby crops until the bees have been removed, as even a small drift of pesticide can have devastating effects on hive health.

The stakes couldn’t be higher: if honeybees and their keepers suffer, so will the fruit, vegetable, and nut crops that are critical to Queensland’s horticultural output. In fact, one in three mouthfuls of food we eat is pollinated by bees.

This isn’t just a beekeeper problem—it’s a food security problem.

In Queensland, bees play a crucial role in pollinating crops like macadamias, avocados, berries, and vegetable crops.

QFVG CEO Rachel Chambers said the tour demonstrated the urgent need for greater
collaboration between beekeepers and horticulture.

“Together, these industries can build a stronger, more resilient future for food production—and ensure that the vital role bees play in our food system continues for generations to come. As the saying goes, no bees, no food,” Ms Chambers said.

Over the coming months QFVG is looking to tour the state to talk all things pollination planning and help growers BEE-Ready for any potential pollination scheduling issues. Watch this space.