Bee Research and Extension Lab
![a row of bee hives with Southern Cross University branding](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/750x950/filters:quality(95)/1139x0:2958x2304/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/research/images/Bee-research_19072014_DSC_9023.jpg)
Practical research for sustainable, productive and profitable honey and pollination industries
The majority of Australian crops rely on honey bee pollination. Healthy bees are critical for our food and nutrition security, which remains under threat from pests like Varroa destructor mite and our changing climate.
Southern Cross University’s Bee Research and Extension Lab is working to address gaps in basic and applied beekeeping research and extension that are critical to increasing the profitability, resilience and research capacity of the Australian honey and pollination industry.
Our projects and research interests focus on:
- Honey bee pests, diseases and biosecurity
- Queen bee rearing and breeding
- Honey bee nutrition
- Pollination
- Technology
- Education, training and extension
- Agribusiness
- Social inclusion
Research
Education
Agribusiness
![A man in a field with bee hives](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/1494x1494/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/landing-pages/images/Bee-research_19072014_DSC_0294_portrait-70kb.jpg)
Our focus
- Developing affordable and effective beekeeping IPM strategies, with a focus on Varroa mite
- Developing the queen bee breeding sector for breeding Varroa-resistant queen bees
- Disseminating evidence-based best practice to industry
- Delivering practical and outcome-based beekeeping training and extension
Collaboration
If you have an idea that can help bees and beekeepers, we want to hear from you. Only by drawing on the collective talents, knowledge and skills of private-sector beekeepers, industry panels, national and international researchers and beekeeping and pollination associations can we identify and address priority issues that create the greatest impact. We are committed to working closely with national and international beekeeping industry stakeholders, including existing partnerships with:
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
- Macquarie University
- University of Adelaide
- NSW Department of Primary Industries
- Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
- Beekeeping Industry Council of Western Australia
- New South Wales Apiarist Association
- Queensland Beekeepers Association
- Australian Queen Bee Breeders Association
- Crop Pollination Association of Australia
- The Coffee Industry Cooperation (PNG)
- National Department of Agriculture and Livestock (PNG)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (Fiji)
- Biosecurity Authority of Fiji
- Fiji Beekeeping Association
- Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Solomon Islands)
- International Bee Research Association - COLOSS
- The University of O'Higgins (Chile)
- University of the South Pacific
- University of Goroka (PNG)
- World Wildlife Fund (Vietnam)
![Hive training at Beekeeping Congress Fiji - photo credit ACIAR](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/828x10000/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/landing-pages/images/Hive-training-at-Beekeeping-Congress-Fiji-DSC_6047-May-23-2023_credit-ACIAR-708-444.jpg)
Work with us
See current PhD scholarships with the Graduate School plus Honours and Masters opportunities with the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
PhD opportunities Honours and Masters opportunitiesThe Bee Team
![Head and shoulders of Cooper Schouten with Bee hives in background](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/180x180/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/research/images/Cooper-Schouten-1-1.jpg)
Dr Cooper Schouten
Director, Senior Research Fellow
![Pete Wilkins holding a bee tray](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/180x180/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/research/images/Pete-Wilkins-1-1.jpg)
Pete Wilkins
Apiary Technician
![Anneliese Austin wearing protective bee gear while holding a bee tray](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/180x180/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/research/images/Anneliese-Austin-1-1.jpg)
Anneliese Austin
PhD Candidate, Research Fellow
![head and shoulders of Dr Isabella Lipi](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/180x180/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/research/images/Isabella-Lipi-1-1.jpg)
Dr Isabella Lipi
Post Doctorate Research Fellow
![Pip Davenport with bee hive in foreground](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/180x180/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/research/images/Pip-Davenport-1-1.jpg)
Pip Davenport
Administration Officer
Latest news
The Conversation: Australia has officially given up on eradicating the Varroa mite: Now what?
Read more![Female varroa mite on the head of a bee pupa credit Gilles San Martin](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/676x676/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/landing-pages/images/Female-varroa-mite-on-the-head-of-a-bee-pupa-credit-Gilles-San-Martin-in-photostream-1-1.jpg)
In Fiji, Landline reports on the growth in beekeeping and the management of varroa mite
Watch on ABC iView![Hive training at Beekeeping Congress Fiji - photo credit ACIAR](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/676x676/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/landing-pages/images/Hive-training-at-Beekeeping-Congress-Fiji-DSC_5984-May-23-2023_credit-ACIAR-1-1.jpg)
AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program
Two workshops were held to assist in the development of a National Varroa Research Strategy and a National Bee Breeding Strategy.
Read more at AgriFutures' Facebook![Close up of Bees](https://pxl-v6-scueduau.terminalfour.net/fit-in/676x676/filters:quality(95)/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/landing-pages/images/CloseUpBees2-1-1.jpg)
Optimising beekeeping development programs: Case study
Factors influencing beekeepers income, productivity and welfare in developing countries
The role of honey hunting in supporting subsistence livelihoods in Sumbawa, Indonesia
An Overview of Rural Development and Small-Scale Beekeeping in Fiji
Improving the Effectiveness of Beekeeping Training: A Case Study of Beekeeping Instructors in Fiji
History of Beekeeping in Papua New Guinea
Barriers to Women’s Participation in Beekeeping in Papua New Guinea
Novel Approaches for Increasing Participation in the Honeybee Industries of the Pacific
Considerations and Factors Influencing the Success of Beekeeping Programs in Developing Countries