Funding support for the beekeeping industry will keep queen bees buzzing and help restore thousands of bee hives destroyed from the 2019-2020 bushfires.
The 2019-2020 bushfire season destroyed over 9800 hives, with another 88,000 suffering heat and smoke damage.
Aiming to create a hive of activity in the state, the NSW and Australian governments will provide $1.9 million in funding for apiary projects. This will include:
- an audit of NSW government-owned land for suitable bee sites
- establishing pollinator-friendly plants in rural NSW
- upskilling beekeepers by subsidising courses in biosecurity and queen breeding
- establishing a 'Honey Library' by profiling the unique chemical composition of NSW honey
- researching projects on new honey markets and enhancing forest and bee health for high-value medicinal honey.
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall says identifying public land that can be used for hives will help increase honey production.
"We will also lead the development of a 'Honey Library' to help identify the unique profile of NSW honey to ensure provenance as well as protect the high-quality reputation of the state's industry," Mr Marshall said.
Learn about the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package.
