The first comprehensive honey bee genetic improvement program in Australia, known as Plan Bee, has been launched to enhance the future of beekeeping. This initiative aims to provide genetic tools that support the industry, which is crucial for pollinating crops valued at over $12 billion annually. The program benefits more than 60 Australian crops, including almonds, canola, and zucchini, reinforcing the importance of bees in the agricultural sector.
Funded by the Federal Government’s Rural R&D for Profit Program, Plan Bee involves collaboration among the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the University of Sydney, and the University of New England’s Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU). Input from the bee industry and seed producers has also been integral to the initiative’s development.
Genetic Tools for a Stronger Future
The program equips Australia’s bee industry with advanced breeding strategies to tackle emerging challenges, such as environmental threats like droughts and bushfires, along with diseases including the varroa mite. According to Elizabeth Frost, a lead researcher from the NSW DPIRD, the initiative mirrors methods used in livestock breeding.
“Estimated breeding values are used by livestock production sectors — such as sheep, pigs, dairy, and beef cattle — to identify important traits for selection in breeding programs,” Frost explained. The goal is to produce stronger, healthier, and more productive bee queens, enhancing the overall health of bee populations.
Over the project’s five-year duration, a national reference population has been established, consisting of 50 breeder queens and 200 production colonies with genetic links to commercial queen breeders across six states. These bees have been essential for developing and validating genetic testing methods, leading to a robust genetic evaluation system.
Frost noted that a survey of queen bee breeders and honey producers highlighted key traits they wish to select for, including honey production, temperament, colony strength, pollination ability, and disease resistance. By quantifying the genetic merit of queens against these criteria, the program aims to identify the best-performing hives and queens, ultimately fostering economic and ecological benefits for the honey and horticulture industries.
Advancing Breeding Techniques
The program has analyzed genotypes from bee DNA alongside hive trait assessment records from a national database, which includes approximately 5,500 colonies. This database assigns scores for estimated breeding values (EBVs) across various traits, such as colony strength and disease resistance.
Bee reproduction differs significantly from that of other livestock. Queen bees mate with multiple drones, selectively fertilizing eggs to produce either female worker bees or male drones. Traditionally, bee breeding in Australia relied on mass selection, but Plan Bee has introduced modern techniques enabling more precise selection of queens to pass on desirable traits.
“Bee breeders now have the tools to transition from classic mass selection to more controlled mating, allowing for more efficient and accurate genetic improvement,” Frost stated. The initiative enables breeders to produce thousands of queen bees for sale, providing the entire industry with a competitive edge.
As a result, beekeepers can cultivate more viable and resilient colonies, honey producers can achieve higher productivity, and farmers relying on bees for pollination can enjoy increased service reliability.
Plan Bee commenced in 2020, prior to the discovery of the varroa mite in Australia. The research has yielded critical insights that support breeding for pest and disease resistance in bees.
“We are ultimately striving for healthy, happy bees,” Frost concluded. The project underscores the importance of selective breeding combined with unique hive and queen identifiers, as well as standardized record-keeping. With a diverse starting population, Australian bee breeders are well-positioned to select traits that enhance bees’ ability to combat the varroa threat.
For further details about Plan Bee, visit agrifutures.com.au/plan-bee.
