HAL-BeeForce: developing the regional model (MT09087)

Sabine Perrone

  • Project code: PRJ-005707

  • Project stage: Closed

  • Project start date: Friday, June 25, 2010

  • Project completion date: Monday, June 25, 2012

  • National Priority: HBE-Improve understanding of pollination strategies that impact crop yields and improve hive health

Summary

THE REPORT OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE AGENCY MANAGING THE NATIONAL BEE PEST SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM, PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA

Phase one equals Year one: the first year DPI will “hand-pick” 10 beekeepers located in the Port Melbourne vicinity to form a Bee Force that will contribute to the current coordinated set of surveillance programs run by DPI. This inner Melbourne BeeForce team will be trained by DPI apiarist officers to perform a limited set of basic protocols for exotic mites’ detection. Trained participants will be then asked to monitor their hives on a regular basis and forward samples to a designated diagnostic capability andor DPI team (See project PRJ-005706 for further details).
Phase two equals Year two. The second biggest port in Victoria is located in Geelong and represents the second highest risk point of entry for the varroa mite. The BeeFroce program developed and tested in year 1 in inner Melbourne will be transferred to Geelong before it is evaluated for its suitability for national adoption.

Program

Honey Bee

Research Organisation

Sabine Perrone

Objective Summary

1. Assist in the design of the 2 years project
2. Develop project proposals for DPI organise reporting for both projects
3. Supervise, manage and document step by step processes and report on delivery/implementation of both phases
4. Test alternative options (e.g., diagnostic result collection systems, bar-coding of diagnostic samples)
5. Gather BeeForce participant impressions and comments, evaluate level of engagement and commitment throughout the project
5. Gather detailed information on costs, potential issues and weaknesses, propose new options or designs when possible and if cost effective
6. Assess if the BeeForce task group is cost effective, what it takes to make it work, and evaluate if such a system is of any value to the Biosecurity programs currently running and can be implemented nationally.