WITH the seeming containment of the Varroa mite incursion in NSW earlier this year, attention has turned to enhancing future protections and responses to the honey bee threat.

NSW Department of Primary Industries has not had a detection for almost a month after appearing in two of six sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle on June 22 and subsequently receiving 100 reports of Varroa mite, most of them close to the area.

They have now euthanised almost 80 per cent of hives in the Eradication Emergency Zones with the goal to keep Australia as the only major honey-producing area in the world free of the parasite.

Lasers, artificial intelligence and gas sensors are among the potential solutions being considered in the fight against Varroa mite as part of new research to enhance and protect pollination security in Australia.

 Hort Innovation chief executive, Brett Fifield said a new research project has been released to market that seeks the best international examples of emerging technologies to detect and control Varroa mite.

 “Around the world there are emerging technologies in the fight against Varroa mite that could be deployed in Australia at scale,” he said.

 “In the European Union for instance, there is research underway on the use of micro-targeted lasers for the eradication of Varroa mite on honey bees.

“The solution uses vision technology to track the bees to find potential infestations, as well as artificial intelligence to target the mites and direct a laser to burn them.

 “There is also encouraging research in the application of semiconductor gas sensors to recognise Varroa mite in hives.

“The use of multi-sensor systems can act as ‘noses,’ and this technology has been used successfully in the past to detect diseases in humans, animals and plants.

 “Managing Varroa into the future will require a mix of approaches. This project will ensure the industry is looking at the best of international innovation to understand what we should progress in Australia.”

 NSW Apiarist Association president, Steve Fuller said technological innovation is a key part of ensuring the industry can control Varroa mite in the future.

 “Beekeepers are interested in not just controlling and stopping the spread of Varroa mite now, but also how we further enhance our capabilities in the future,” Mr Fuller said.

“If we are able to eradicate Varroa now, we still need important technologies like these to safeguard our industry’s future.”

 The project will prioritise the following areas of inquiry:

•            Review the status and availability of biological and cultural control agents for Varroa mite globally

•            Understand innovations in Varroa detection technology

•            Review previous failures in technology uptake

•            Develop shortlisted candidates to be studied further.

 Hort Innovation is investing more than $61 million into research and development projects that aim to enhance and protect pollination security in Australia - from ongoing work to protect honey bees to looking into alternatives like flies and native bees that are not affected by Varroa mite as well as mechanical methods of pollination.

In July, Hort Innovation announced a $1.2 million partnership with the University of Sydney to develop a world-first hormone-based pesticide that is safe for honey bees but fatal to Varroa mite.

 More information about the pesticide can be found at bit.ly/3yAUPOa and the pollination project at bit.ly/2KB4uKN