AgriFutures Australia, in partnership with ManukaLife will deliver the project Greenhouse production of high-grade medical mono floral Manuka honey – 2021. This project aims to produce the world’s first high grade mono floral Manuka honey. This will be achieved by integrating honey bees into green houses with plants trialed in the project Leptospermum Plant Breeding Program for Development of High-grade Manuka Honey. By containing both the Leptospermum plants and the honey bee within the greenhouse, it will allow for high-grade, ‘pure’ Manuka honey production.
Managing Director of ManukaLife, Paul Callander is extremely pleased to have the support of AgriFutures Australia for this important work for the Manuka honey industry.
“To have Federal Government support for a technology and science driven elite agricultural product is very encouraging,” he said.
“The research project is confirmation that the last five years of research and development on elite clonal genetics will allow us to look at large scale commercialisation in enclosed infrastructure, to produce a high grade product with scientific backing, that will result in value add products in the pharmaceutical and medical industries.”
“Currently, Manuka honey in its purest form is hard to secure as most manuka honey is collected from the wild or in field and will typically be diluted with other nectars.
“From an agricultural perspective, to grow this plant in large, enclosed areas will de risk some of the agricultural issues and still provide high internal rates of return on the plantings.
“Using key technologies to monitor water, temperature and soils are all ways to increase yield in an environmentally conscious way while also monitoring bee health.
