Pollination attribution in grain crops particularly canola

The recent establishment in Australia of the Varroa mite, a key parasite of European honeybees globally, may have significant implications for the Australian grains industry and the yields of flowering crops that benefit from insect pollination, for example canola. However, the contribution of insect pollination to crop yields and the roles of honeybees and native wild pollinating insects in providing these pollination services is currently unclear in the context of the Australian grains industry. International studies of canola crops have demonstrated that the contribution of insect pollination, versus self or wind pollination, to a crops final yield can vary between canola varieties and can also be influenced by agronomy and weather variables. This project will investigate the dependency of Australian canola production on insect pollination versus other forms of pollination, through field studies conducted across the primary canola growing regions of Australia. It will explore the current contributions of honeybees (both managed and feral) and other pollinating insects to yields of domestic canola varieties being grown on commercial farm enterprises in Australia. While the predominant focus of the work will be on canola, the project will also explore the contribution of insect versus self-pollination for a range of other flowering grain crops. Using the results of the field studies, the project will quantify the value that insect pollination can contribute through increased yields and the potential consequences to income that could result from yield reductions due to Varroa causing partial or complete losses of European honeybee populations. The project will explore whether modifications to agronomic practice and management could be used to mitigate against any observed or predicted reductions in yields, and a series of recommendations will be co-developed with key stakeholders.