THE first 15 graduates from a certificate III beekeeping course offered at a new honey bee research centre in Yanchep will celebrate their achievement on Wednesday, September 26.
Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery will present the students with their certificates while Pearce MHR Christian Porter will officially open the Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products, which is based at the Y.hub on Yanchep Beach Rd.
In the Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products (CRCHBP) annual report chief executive officer Liz Barbour said in the first year a lease and license agreement had been negotiated with the Y.hub for access to laboratory facilities and offices for students, which was close to a training organisation and office area to support start-ups.
Dr Barbour said the drive to add value to the honey bee industry was growing with wider collaboration across Australia.
“Research expertise to support industry requirements has been identified and contracted to deliver industry-identified outcomes through 29 projects,’’ she said.
“Nineteen are progressing, with all projects to be delivering by January 2019.
“Training to support rapid industry maturation is a focus.
“Sixteen PhD students and 10 Honours and Masters research projects will be supported.
“To ensure that all beekeepers receive a high-level of training, focus has been placed on accredited vocational training which will be extended with new courses to meet industry need.
“The CRC for Honey Bee Products Limited is focused on business development.
“SME engagement, product development and combining this with tourism opportunities is been seen as an area of opportunity.’’
She said an investigation into the genetic structure of the leptospermum genus changed the CRCHBP approach to its breeding program.
“Greater focus will be placed on matching species to site, and selection of material specific for site performance.
“As a result the accelerated breeding and tissue culture projects were closed and funds redirected to meet promised outcomes.’’
The event starts at 10am with the presentation and official opening due to start at 10.30am.
