5 minutes with Karin Kos CEO of Apiculture New Zealand What is your background and how did you become involved in apiculture? I was brought up in a family horticultural business and have always enjoyed working in the primary sector. I held communication and marketing roles in the New Zealand seafood and wool sectors. When the role as Chief Executive of the newly established Apiculture New Zealand came up 4 years ago, it was too good an opportunity to miss – it combined my interest in promoting the primary sector and challenged me to lift my communications skills to lead a growing industry. We last spoke to you in February 2019, when a commodity levy was being proposed – what has changed since then?
to bee health and good biosecurity systems, while identifying tangible value opportunities for our members. While mānuka honey has generally continued to perform strongly in export markets, the recent challenge has been the fall in prices for other New Zealand honeys over the last few years. To support those other honeys, Apiculture New Zealand has recently embarked on a collective story-telling drive to educate consumers about New Zealand’s diverse range of native honey varieties. We have joined forces with New Zealand Story, a government agency to create The New Zealand Honey Story: a suite of compelling promotional materials about the lesser known honeys. So, while the mighty mānuka has given us a honey profile envied around the world, we thought it was time to let other honeys, like rātā, kāmahi and pōhutukawa, shine. How has the beekeeping sector stood up to the COVID-19 lockdown and level changes?
consumers responding to COVID-19 with a renewed interest in natural food sources like honey. As a result, we have seen record honey export results for the last 4 months. Looking ahead, awareness of mānuka honey has certainly been raised internationally, however, it is likely to be some time before we know how much of that demand will be retained long-term. Are you currently working on any new research and development projects? Without a commodity levy, which would have seen a significant proportion of funding going towards research, we have not been able to undertake any significant research and development projects. However, good progress has been made regarding a couple of ongoing programmes, including getting EPA approval in 2019 to release a biocontrol insect (Pauesia nigrovaria) parasitoid for the destructive giant willow aphid (GWA).
The apiculture sector has been fortunate to be given essential services status over the COVID lockdown and beyond. This means beekeepers are able to keep looking after bees and continue to provide honey for the domestic and international markets. Additionally, international demand for mānuka honey has benefited from
For beekeepers, farmers and landowners the introduction of the parasitoid from California means the willow now has a chance against this pest. Willows are a major source of nectar and pollen for bees during spring following the winter months' food shortage. Without the vital food willows provide, the bees' ability to produce honey and pollinate food crops is greatly compromised.
International demand for mānuka honey has benefited from consumers responding to COVID-19 with a renewed interest in natural food sources like honey. ”
The 3-year research programme is being led by Scion, funded under MPI’s Sustainable Farming Fund and brings together Apiculture New Zealand, the New Zealand Poplar and Willow Research Trust, the River Managers
While it was disappointing the commodity levy vote was not successful, our work to lift the productivity and skills of our sector, and the value of honey, continues. As an industry we have seen exponential growth and our focus is making sure we have a sustainable beekeeping model over the long-term. That means attention
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