Honey production in Western Australia is down more than half this year, compared with last year, after honeybees were affected by recent drought conditions. The University of Western Australia’s Professor Boris Baer said beekeepers should not expect their bees to produce honey. The weather conditions resulted in failure of blossom in a number of plants important for honey production. The fall in honey production comes on top of declines in honeybee populations nationally and world-wide. Professor... ...Read more »

A senior EU judge has said all food sold in the EU contaminated with even the slightest trace of genetically modified material must have a special regulatory approval. In a formal opinion on a case involving honey contaminated with pollen from Monsanto’s EU-approved MON 810 maize, ECJ advocate general Yves Bot has said “the unintentional presence…even of a minute quantity of pollen…means that such honey must be the subject of an authorisation”. This means that contaminated food... ...Read more »

Honeybees can learn to avoid nectar containing natural plant toxins, but will eat it when there is no alternative, scientists at the UK’s Newcastle University have found. This means that in areas dominated by these so called ‘toxic plants’ – such as almond or apple orchards – bees struggle to find an alternative food source and so are forced to eat toxic nectar. With honeybee populations already under stress, the Newcastle University team believe these toxin-laden nectars... ...Read more »

Bee mortality is rising while the number of beekeepers in Europe is declining, all of which could have a serious impact on food production since most plants and crops are pollinated by bees. The European Parliament has issued a call for the EU to step up support to the beekeeping industry when the common agricultural policy is next revamped. With 76% of food production and 84% of plant species dependent on pollination by bees, Parliament’s resolution adopted on Thursday asks the Commission... ...Read more »

The sudden death of bee colonies since late 2006 across North America has stumped scientists for four years. But today, researchers at Texas Tech may have a greater understanding of the mysterious colony collapse disorder which threatened to destroy bee populations, honey production and bee-pollination reliant agriculture. Shan Bilimoria, a professor and molecular virologist, said the bees may be taking a one-two punch from both an insect virus and a fungus, which may be causing bees to die off by... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has announced plans to extend temporary maximum limits in honey for the neurotoxin tutin, produced by a New Zealand plant called the tutu bush. Currently, FSANZ allows 2mg of tutin per kilogram of honey, or 1mg per kilogram of comb honey, limits which are due to expire on March 31 2011. FSANZ is recommending an extension of the maximum limits for two years. New Zealand honey can contain unsafe levels of tutin, as a result of bees foraging on honey dew from passion... ...Read more »

A new report analysing Australia’s honey industry has been released by the RIRDC, designed to identify possible improvements to marketing of the sticky breakfast treat in the face of Australia’s taste for pre-packaged meal options. RIRDC Senior Research Manger, Dr Dave Alden, said the report is designed to help Australia’s honey industry understand some of the dynamics driving supply chain pressures in the industry. “This report identifies 26 separate issues and pressures affecting... ...Read more »

A report released yesterday by the RIRDC highlights the vulnerability of Australia’s European honeybee population, and the corresponding risk to 65% of the nation’s crops, which rely on these insects for pollination. Australia is one of the last countries in the world to resist an outbreak of the highly destructive Varroa mite, which would decimate wild honeybee colonies, in turn devastating producers who rely on them to pollinate their crops. The new report, Pollination Aware, consolidates... ...Read more »

The UK’s Food Standards Agency today issued a warning to parents not to feed honey to children under 1 year old, after a confirmed case of infant botulism last month. While there have only been 11 cases of infant botulism in the UK since 1980, all have had possible links to honey, and three have occurred since June 2009. Infant botulism is rare but serious illness, causing muscle weakness and breathing problems and usually requiring hospitalisation. Most babies recover slowly but fully. The... ...Read more »

Capilano Honey has claimed one of the major awards at the recent Australian Export Awards. Held at Parliament House last Friday night, the long running awards recognised the leading Australian export performers of the past year. “The Awards are national and cover all sectors of the economy. Tonight’s finalists from eight State and Territory Awards in 12 categories of exporters demonstrate unwavering commitment, dedication and willingness to innovate in order to achieve exporting success,”... ...Read more »