Bees play an important role in New Zealand economy, but have come under pressure recently because of varroa mites, which have killed many of the country's wild bees.
New Zealand's honey exports are valued at more than $100 million a year, and the overall economic benefit of bees, including for pollinating a wide range of plants, is estimated at $5.1 billion.
Prof Dearden was ''delighted'' to receive the funding, which was part of about $1.9 million recently granted to Otago University researchers, from this year's $278 million Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment round.
Prof Dearden, who is also director of Genetics Otago, said it was ''really good'' to get the funding, ''because what we're doing is quite cutting-edge''.
Existing pesticides protected crops from pests such as aphids, flies and moths but also killed other insects, including bees, while not harming mammals.
Because New Zealand bees were already under pressure from the varroa mite, it was sensible to undertake genetic research which could help develop pesticides that did not harm bees.
''Our previous research has identified a novel target in the genomes of pest insects that is missing from bees.
''Finding this target gives us hope that developing chemicals that interfere with these novel targets will produce an effective insecticide against pests, which has no impact on bees,'' he said.
Two other researchers in the Otago biochemistry department, Dr Monica Gerth and Dr Wayne Patrick, have gained $1 million for a project involving ''manufacturing molecules through enzyme engineering''.
This research aims to develop new bio-manufacturing processes for two chemicals - butanone and 2-butanol - that are produced from petroleum.
Butanone was a key ingredient in paints and adhesives, and 2-butanol was converted into synthetic rubbers, particularly car tyres, the researchers said.
