Bee Vectoring in New Zealand

This system of using honey bees to carry biological products and/or pollen is going gang busters in the USA. Meanwhile in New Zealand a couple of companies have dabbled with Bee Vectoring using Bumble Bees in glasshouses.

Unfortunately this system is not registered with ACVM (the regulatory authority in New Zealand) and therefore the system can’t be used for exported fruit.

To get this through, so that all growers have the opportunity to reduce costs and reduce the carbon footprint in their orchard, it needs to get through the process of applying for regulatory reform. This is expensive.

Bringing innovation to New Zealand has always been difficult, even if the benefits are wide spread and will increase our exports of current crops, and the use extended into crops for local consumption.

A group of like minded people, representing several bodies and companies have got together to forward this, but now we need further support to get it over the line.