News
Latest additions to the Beehive are
Big Bee who we are yet to name
and a bike rack for those who cycle on Kangaroo Island
Island Beehive & Kangaroo Island Pure Grain - Exporting to Japan
JAPANESE consumers are about to enjoy the fruits of the hard work of more than 100 million pure ligurian bees on Kangaroo Island.
Another shipment of 21 tonnes of Kangaroo Island non-GMO Canola honey left Adelaide on the 12th January 2011. Sold to the Kanematsu Corporation for sale to 1.5 million Japanese consumers, in a deal arranged by KI Pure Grain with Island Beehive, a consortium of nine beekeepers on the island.
In an abrupt change for the island's bees, who normally produce Certified Organic eucalypt honey, they have spent time in the island's non GMO canola crops, increasing the yield of the crop and producing much sought after Canola Honey to supply the Japanese demand.
KI Pure Grain chief executive Duncan MacGillivray said the Japanese love for Kangaroo Island canola has provided a natural link to also market canola honey from its pristine environment. "The Japanese have said they will take as much canola honey as we can deliver,'' he said.
Island Beehive spokesman, Peter Davis, said the honey was unique because it came from the world's only ligurian bee colony and was GM free.
Mr Davis said Japan wanted 60 tonnes of canola honey a year and will probably take another 40 tonnes of eucalypt honey with the sale of 100 tonnes worth more than $500,000 a year.
"It's a great opportunity for the grain growers and beekeepers to work together,'' he said.
"The Japanese will use Kangaroo Island in their promotion a lot and we are also trying to establish tourism links with Japan.''
Mr Davis said the group is already moving to meet growing Japanese demand by breeding up its hives, getting smarter with infield management to increase the production per hive.
The Island Beehive group produces 70 per cent of the island's honey and Mr Davis said he can see the Japanese market and demand for canola honey helping to double its honey industry within the next couple of years.
Importance of Bees
CANBERRA - The nation's horticulture industry would suffer a $2 billion sting if there were no honey bees for pollination of crops.
