Agricultural
14 July, 2026
Funding goes toward Varroa mite fight
The final round of Community Bee Innovation Fund was announced for six projects delivering research into varroa mite management and training and preparedness for beekeepers.
The Community Bee Innovation Fund has seen its third round inundated with funding for measures to fight and control varroa mite which is quickly surging through Southern Queensland.
Queensland’s beekeepers and pollination-reliant industries are set to benefit from the $500,000 fund with six new projects announced to tackle the challenges posed by varroa mite.
The fund was not created to manage the varroa mite, but due to the third round’s timing, it just happened that a lot of the successful participants were applying for funding to develop ways in which to manage varroa.
The Southern Beekeepers Association (Queensland), which encompasses Clifton district and surrounds, was awarded funding to run free training workshops on managing and resisting the varroa spread.
The state-wide Queensland Beekeepers Association also received funding to help in developing six regional varroa mite management plans and providing 20 individualised varroa mite treatment planning consultations.
The University of the Sunshine Coast was awarded funding to investigate and test spider venom-derived peptide formulations for their potential to provide targeted control of varroa mites in honeybee colonies.
Its second awarded funding will go toward conducting research to develop precision double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) solutions that selectively target varroa mites without harming honey bees.
This was the Community Bee Innovation Fund’s Final Round.
