Michael Ward (ILF2014), The Australian
Select Harvests chief executive Paul Thompson says the varroa mite outbreak threatens to disrupt the pollination of 44 per cent of the company’s almond orchards.
Bees are now being exterminated in the state to contain the spread of the parasite, which has been detected across seven properties, and could cost Australia $70m each year if it is not stopped.
The outbreak threatens to disrupt Australia’s $12.2bn horticulture industry, with companies such as Select Harvests – which has a market value of $637.4m – relying on bees for pollination and producing commercial crops.