Call for honey industry research levy

Photo by Ruth Grundy
Photo by Ruth Grundy
The National Bee Keepers Association has declared August Bee Aware month. The work of bees as pollinators and producers of honey contributes about $5 billion to the New Zealand economy. In this issue, Courier Country reporter Ruth Grundy discusses challenges facing the sector with the president of the second of the two industry bodies, National Beekeepers Association's Ricki Leahy.

A honey industry levy would be a fairer way to fund research than the voluntary subscriptions on which the sector relies at present, National Beekeepers Association president (NBA) Ricki Leahy says.

Earlier this month, Federated Farmers Bees representative Peter Bell echoed those sentiments, saying a compulsory levy paid by all beekeepers would be the most logical way to fund ''industry good'' projects.

Mr Leahy said there was always money needed to fund research and the supply of funds needed to be reliable, as research projects often carried over for several years.

The owners of most of New Zealand's hives belonged to either one or other of the two industry organisations - Federated Farmers Bees or NBA.

''Most research funding is donated on a voluntary basis from amongst these beekeepers but there is no certainty and, of course, the funding is not universal.

At present the industry relied on voluntary subscriptions paid by a relatively small percentage of beekeepers - some 700-800 of more than 3500 registered beekeepers in New Zealand, he said.

This only covered the cost of running the organisations and was insufficient to adequately fund the number and scope of projects the industry needed to fund, he said.

''To some extent this does hold the industry back,'' Mr Leahy said.

''It would be fairer overall, and more productive, if all beekeepers contributed to a levy-based scheme.''

Biosecurity was also a major concern for the industry.

''It's imperative that we get it right''.

However, the newly introduced Government Industry Agreement (GIA) would impose a range of costs on the industry.

''We need to be absolutely and particularly sure this biosecurity management system is of the best value for our beekeepers.''

A GIA is formed between a representative industry body and the Ministry for Primary Industry (MPI) for biosecurity purposes.

It identifies the biosecurity risks of greatest concern to an industry and puts in place a plan to manage and respond to those risks.

Under a GIA, the industry agrees to, jointly with the Government, meet the costs to manage the risk.

''That's a process we [NBA] are only just starting to work through with MPI, along with our sister organisation Federated Farmers Bees,'' Mr Leahy said.

''The important thing for the beekeeping industry, whether the issue concerns GIA, a levy, research or anything else, is that beekeepers work together with a united voice to advocate for what they feel is best for the long-term development of the industry.''

What was good for the industry - its biosecurity and the health and wellbeing of the bee population - was vital for New Zealand's agricultural export industries because of the contribution bees made through pollination, Mr Leahy said.

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