Words Gary Richards, Vice President, WAAS

BEHIND the scenes of this essential process is a long-standing organisation supporting bee health and beekeepers across the state: the West Australian Apiarist Society (WAAS).

Established in 1953, WAAS is one of Australia's oldest agricultural bodies, representing a diverse membership of hobbyist, sideline, and commercial beekeepers. While many associate beekeeping primarily with honey production, the reality is that apiarists underpin a much broader agricultural service — pollination. For vegetable growers, this connection is both practical and increasingly strategic.

A significant proportion of vegetable crops benefit from, or depend on, insect pollination. Crops such as pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, and melons in the Gascoyne and Mid West. Chilli, Capsicum, and tomatoes

on the Swan Coastal Plain. Also, there are a small number of niche local seed producers who rely heavily on bees to transfer pollen effectively, improving both yield and quality. Even in crops that are not strictly dependent on bees, pollinator activity can enhance yield, uniformity and marketability, an important consideration for growers supplying retail and wholesale markets. This is where WAAS plays a critical role.

By supporting beekeepers to maintain strong, healthy hives, the organisation indirectly supports the productivity of WA's horticulture sector.

Their work spans advocacy, education, and biosecurity — each of which has direct implications for growers.

Western Australia has historically benefited from geographic isolation, helping protect local bee populations from many of the pests and diseases present elsewhere. However, this advantage requires constant vigilance. WAAS has been a consistent voice in promoting strong biosecurity measures, particularly in relation to threats such as the Varroa mite — a parasite that has devastated bee populations globally.

BeeInformed is an initiative delivered by the APC Beekeeper Producers' Committee and funded by beekeepers through the APC fee-for-service.

The arrival and spread of such threats would have significant flow-on impacts for vegetable production, increasing the cost and complexity of securing pollination services.

Beyond biosecurity, WAAS contributes to education and knowledge-sharing within the beekeeping community. Well-managed hives are more resilient, more productive, and better able to meet the demands of agricultural pollination. For growers, this translates into more reliable access to pollination services when they are needed most.

There is also a growing opportunity for closer collaboration between growers and apiarists. In peri-urban and emerging food regions — such as the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, integrating managed pollination into farm planning is becoming increasingly important.

Simple considerations, such as providing safe hive access, minimising chemical exposure during flowering, and maintaining habitat for pollinators, can significantly improve outcomes for both parties.

Importantly, the relationship between growers and beekeepers is not one-sided. Healthy farming landscapes support healthy bees.

As the horticulture sector faces increasing pressures — from climate variability to input costs and supply chain challenges, the value of reliable pollination should not be underestimated. Organisations like the West Australian Apiarist Society provide an essential layer of coordination, advocacy, and expertise that helps underpin this often invisible service.

For WA vegetable growers, engaging with the beekeeping community is more than a courtesy — it is an investment in productivity, resilience, and the long-term sustainability of local food systems. If growers would like to learn about beekeeping, WAAS has training to suit and can be contacted via https://waas.org.au/

Gary Richards is the vice president of WAAS, WA ambassador for the Wheen Bee Foundation and a lifelong vegetable and open-pollinated, heirloom clean seed grower.