Federated Farmers: Apiculture industry heading in right direction

Changes are coming to the beekeeping industry

The New Zealand Apiculture (beekeeping) industry has been characterised as fragmented, without an effective voice to lobby the Government and unable to fund required research to push the industry into the future.

But this all is about to change.

Last month's industry conference at Taupo was a pivotal moment for the industry.

It signalled a coming of age, as delegates and supporters came together to celebrate all that is good about the industry and to lay down in broad terms a blueprint for the future.

"Conference 2015 will be remembered as the best yet, with over 830 registrations, a vast array of interesting topics, international speakers, educational workshops, practical learning and superb camaraderie", said Federated Farmers Bee Industry Group Chairperson John Hartnell.

The current dairy downturn is widely publicised, but what is not often recognised is the snowballing success of the apiculture industry in New Zealand based largely on the triumphs of the burgeoning manuka honey and bee-products industry.

But like the runaway success the dairy industry was, success in the apiculture industry does not come without hurdles.

Beekeepers will recall a time, in the not so distant past, where they needed to find a second job to make ends meet. Now many can afford to work for nine months and spend the rest of the year travelling and developing new business opportunities.

The success of the manuka honey industry has seen a number of new players (individuals and companies) enter the apiculture industry.

The newcomers are ignoring long-term arrangements between beekeepers and landowners, and essentially paying top dollar to secure the best sites; where previously the beekeeper exchanged pollination services for honey production.

This behaviour is shortsighted and unsustainable long-term, should the bottom fall out of the manuka honey market. We need to emphasise that long-term mutual agreements between landowners and beekeepers are vital to ensure the sustainability of the industry well into the future.

Industry leaders should be applauded for embracing change and making significant steps towards a unified industry body.

The industry's success going forward is contingent on a strong, unified body which is able to support research projects beneficial to beekeepers, providing a powerful voice lobbying government and allowing the industry to effectively tackle key issues on biosecurity, disease control and food safety standards.