Module 1 – The Urban Bee-ology Project (UB)

Class Discussion

Start the program by watching the YouTube video on the History Channel that paints a picture of what the world would be like without bees:

• A World Without Bees (History Channel)

Then search your neighbourhood to determine how many hives are registered in Geelong

• Suburb search for beehives 

Activity

1. Why are bees so important to humankind and the environment?
2. Find out how many beehives there are in Geelong?

Class Discussion

Breaking news was received recently and it can be confirmed Varroa Mite is in Australia. This is devastating news for Australian agriculture business as it leads to colony collapse and the spread of other viruses to hives which in turn impacts farming.

The following Video is an announcement of siting of Varroa mite in NSW.

• Breaking News, June 29 2022 “Varroa mite in NSW”

Activity

Why is the Varroa mite a biosecurity threat to the Australian Honey Bee Industry?

Write your answer below.

Class Discussion

Introduce the regulatory and legislative requirements regarding beekeeping, the importance of this for the agricultural industry and biosecurity. Read the information in the PDFs below:

• PDF #1 Factsheet BeeMAX
• PDF #2 Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice

Activity

1. Which government department manages beekeeper registrations?
2. How much does it cost to register your hive?
3. Name the legislation that requires bee hives to be registered and why.
4. Read the BeeMAX factsheet to identify the event that threatened the beekeeping industry in 2018.
5. How does biosecurity relate to agriculture and the global bee epidemic?
6. Explain why WILD bee hives are a concern for Honey bee BIOSECURITY?

Class Discussion

In response to the global pollinator crisis, we have seen the popularity of apiculture as a form of environmentalism, both as mitigation to and adaptationto the pollinator crisis. These good intentions associated with urban beekeeping have increased the likelihood of problematic unintended consequences:

• Cities are heavily induced with bees and are bothersome for some who worry about being stung
• Urban beekeeping in not solving the ‘rural’ agriculture crisis
• Is urban beekeeping in Australia meeting the global needs?
• Wild bees go unregulated and how much should this be a concern
• Urban vs rural environment for food (nectar) source for bees

Activity

Using your critical thinking, synthesise the information you have gathered so far and identify the pros and cons of urban beekeeping. Write these below.