This program has laid the groundwork for new and integrated crop pollination methods to reduce the risks associated with the high dependence on honey bees and enhance pollination outcomes in protected cropping systems across a range of horticultural crops.

The project developed a guide of case studies from Australia and New Zealand, available here.

The final report is here.

Challenge

As Australian horticultural industries increasingly turn to protected cropping to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather, pests, and diseases, understanding their impact on honey bees and pollination is vital.

Response

This collaborative research program set out to enhance the quality and yield of fruit and vegetables in protected cropping environments. The overarching goals of the program included enhancing insect pollinator efficacy by improving honey bee performance under covers, manipulating plant floral and reproductive traits for improved fruit production and quality, optimising the placement of pollen donor plants (pollinisers) to sustain high fruit yield and quality, and advancing innovative methods of mechanical pollination to achieve artificial pollination in the absence of insects.

Benefit

The comprehensive findings presented in the final report provide valuable insights into optimising pollination practices and improving overall crop productivity in protected cropping environments. Working towards a common goal, the outcomes of this project are relevant to both the protected cropping grower community and apiarists. The insights gained from the extensive data collected over several seasons from a range of environments highlight the impact of protected covers and will help both growers and beekeepers the resources to make informed decisions about their practices and orchard designs. The ongoing extension of this work through best practice case studies, already commissioned, and other communication avenues, will be critical to ensure uptake.

Who was involved in the work?

This project was a collaborative piece of work funded through the Australian Government’s Rural R&D for Profit initiative. It involved a variety of teams all led by Hort Innovation:

• NSW Department of Primary Industries
• Plant & Food Research Australia
• The University of Adelaide
• University of Tasmania
• The University of New England

There were also a number of participating horticultural businesses including Daintree Fresh, ALGA, Seed Purity, APAL, Hansen Orchards, Costa, Reid Fruits, OzGroup, South Pacific Seeds and G2 Netting System.

What was the Rural R&D for Profit program?

The Australian Government’s Rural R&D for Profit program was a competitive grants initiative that boosted funding to the country’s 15 rural research and development corporations. It supported nationally coordinated research for the benefit of Australian primary producers, outside of the levy system. Since the program began in 2015, Hort Innovation has led or otherwise supported a number of collaborative Rural R&D for Profit projects, including this one. You can learn more about the program on the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s website here.