HortResearch is to investigate organic treatments which could help control the Varroa bee mite.
The crown research institute has New Zealand's only team of specialised honey bee researchers, who are already working on other projects related to controlling Varroa, the bee-killing mite found in hives last year.
The research will focuson registering products that will benefit beekeepers wanting to use organic Varroa-control substances.
New Zealand beekeepers have traditionally not used drugs to control bee diseases.
The organic products will also reduce the chances of miticide-resistant Varroa developing, as has happened overseas.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Varroa programme coordinator, Paul Bolger, said that although these products were highly effective, excessive reliance on one chemical group was not a sound long-term policy because of the possibility of resistance building in the mite population.
Meanwhile, MAF has reminded beekeepers that it is illegal to use unregistered products to treat Varroa. Mr Bolger said some of the compounds used overseas could be hazardous to bees and beekeepers.
