Australian honey news and information
Fundraising initiatives helping Aussie beekeepers affected by drought and bushfires
The livelihoods of many Australian beekeepers have been threatened and even wiped out entirely in recent times, first by drought, and more recently, by the terrible bushfires.
Funds are being raised to help them through the industry backed Hive Aid, as well as through a number of private online initiatives.
Information and links to some of them are detailed here.
Honey prices set to rise as drought, fires hit Australian honey production
bushfires Drought honey harvest 2019
The price rises are almost certain because the combined impact of drought, bushfires and climate change is threatening a big drop in this years honey harvest.
A number of beekeepers across two of Australia’s largest states - Queensland and New South Wales, have reported likely poor honey harvests this summer.
And Capilano, Australia’s dominant honey packer, with more than 70% of the market, has said price rises are imminent.
University research suggests Australian manuka honey stronger than NZ variety
Australian manuka honey leptospermum manuka manuka honey research
Research at Australia’s Sunshine Coast has found a local variety of the manuka or tea-tree bush may produce more potent medicinal honey than the species which grows in New Zealand. The finding was revealed in a segment screened on the high-profile and popular ABC Gardening television show last month
UK scientific study shows manuka honey helps treat cystic fibrosis
cystic fibrosis manuka honey manuka honey research medical manuka honey
A new study by a group of UK bio-medical scientists shows that manuka honey will be likely to do a better job than antibiotics in treating the resistant bacterial strains that afflict sufferers of cystic fibrosis.
According to results from the study published at Frontiers of Microbiology earlier this year, manuka honey was effective in killing some 39% of the anti-biotic resistant bacteria.
Australian honey is different; better purity tests needed
A government backed review of tests to prove honey purity says that they sometimes don’t work with Australian honeys.
Just like Australian trees and plants, some Australian honeys have different chemical characteristics compared to those found in other parts of the world, and particularly in Europe.