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From Varroa Mite Threatens Pollination in Adelaide Hills

How could the Varroa mite threat to pollinators affect Tim Jackson?

Likely What happens if… A possibility worth considering, not a forecast.

Almond growers face rising production costs due to Varroa mite threat The Varroa mite, a parasite spreading across Australia, is threatening wild pollinator populations in the Adelaide Hills, where they account for 75 to 95 per cent of pollination. Because almond growers rely entirely on commercial beekeeping, the mite's impact is driving up the cost of essential pollination services. Over the past four years, hive prices have increased by 50 per cent, which Tim Jackson noted adds significantly to the already increasing cost of farming production, requiring five to six hives per hectare.

Reported by 1 independent outlet Written Oct 18
Effect
Strong negative
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When
Over the long term
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How it reaches Tim Jackson

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The facts so far

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  • Wild swarms of bees in the Adelaide Hills are responsible for 75 to 95 per cent of pollination.perthnow.com.au
  • The Varroa mite is a parasite that arrived in Australia in 2022 and has spread across SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland.perthnow.com.au
  • A 2026 security report estimates the mite will cause a 60 per cent decline in commercial beehives across four states during the August pollination peak.perthnow.com.au
  • Almond growers have seen hive prices increase 50 per cent in the past four years.perthnow.com.au
  • Almond growers need five to six hives per hectare.perthnow.com.au

Why it matters

The threat of the Varroa mite poses a significant biosecurity challenge to Australia's food production, particularly for pollination-dependent industries like almond farming. The reliance on commercial beekeeping means that the mite's spread directly translates into higher operational costs for growers, which Tim Jackson has noted is adding to an already increasing burden on farming production.

This issue is part of a larger national struggle against pests and diseases, as the mite is spreading across multiple states. The industry is currently looking at solutions, including a study showing a naturally occurring fungi could infect and kill Varroa mites, but the immediate challenge remains managing the attrition of commercial hives while dealing with re-infestation from feral hives.

What we don't know yet

  • Will the research into the naturally occurring fungi be able to provide a scalable and effective treatment for the Varroa mite?
  • How will the industry manage the attrition of hives while dealing with re-infestation from feral hives?

What would change this answer

The fungal strain research proves effective and scalableThe industry's reliance on expensive hive management could decrease, easing the grower burden.
Mite resistance continues to grow across all permitted synthetic miticide treatmentsThe decline in commercial beehives could accelerate, leading to even higher costs and potential production shortfalls.

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Beyond this explainer

Questions worth asking

Ideas the web ties closely to this story that the explainer doesn't mention. These are prompts for your own research: Brind hasn't answered them.

  • About Almond Yields

    If the mite causes a decline in commercial beehives, how might this affect the expected yields of almond crops?

  • About Pesticides

    Are growers considering the use of pesticides to manage the mite, and what are the potential risks to wild pollinators?

  • About Ecosystem Biodiversity

    Beyond almond farming, how does the mite's spread impact the overall biodiversity of the Adelaide Hills ecosystem?

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The full eventVarroa Mite Threatens Pollination in Adelaide Hills

Brind's analysis is written by AI from the reporting linked above and can be wrong. This explainer is a possibility worth considering, not a forecast: steps marked as Brind's reasoning are not stated in the reporting. It is not investment advice; do your own research.