If you are interested in the future of food in Australia then you have come to the right place. Also, if you are interested in the role of the European Honeybee in Australia or the eradication of the Asian bee (Apis cerana), then this site is for you.
Asian bees threaten to reduce the number of European honeybees which will mean fewer plants are pollinated, therefore reducing the volume and variety of food able to be produced in Australia.
Hence, eradication of the Asian bee is a food security issue.
What can I do?
Start by reading some of the resources available through this site and then you can support the campaign by:
- Filling in the Call to Action email and sending your email to the Minister, Joe Ludwig.
- Writing a letter to your local politician.
- Spreading the word among your family and friends.
- Attending or supporting our Honey Breakfast and Beekeepers procession in Canberra – 2nd March 2011.
What does the campaign aim to achieve?
The campaign aims to get a commitment from the Australian government to:
- Immediately allocate $10million over two years to eradicate the Asian bee in Australia.
- Implement the recommendations of the 2008 More than Honey report by allocating an additional $50m annually to maintain healthy bee populations to secure pollination services.
- Provide funding for the establishment and operation of the Co-operative Research Centre for Bee Research and Food Security.
Who's behind the campaign?
This is a grass roots campaign driven by a range of people interested in the future of food production in Australia. It is being driven by Jodie Goldsworthy and Max Whitten, on behalf of an unincorporated group of citizens concerned about food security. Jodie Goldsworthy is a fourth generation beekeeper and Director of Beechworth Honey Pty Ltd and Max Whitten is Adjunct Professor, Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Queensland. The campaign has the support of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council and all of the State Beekeeping Associations.