Australian Beekeepers Seek Access to New RNA-Based Biopesticide to Combat Varroa Mite Resistance
Australian beekeepers are calling for rapid approval of Norroa, a new biopesticide developed in New Zealand that uses double-stranded RNA to render varroa mites infertile, as resistance to existing treatments spreads across multiple states. The varroa destructor mite, present in Australia since 2022, has caused an estimated 90% loss of wild honey bee populations in some areas and is driving beekeepers to exit the industry. The new treatment could take up to two years to reach Australian markets, but beekeepers argue it is urgently needed as over 32% of surveyed beekeepers plan to leave the industry due to the pest.
Australian beekeepers are advocating for faster regulatory approval of Norroa, a biopesticide developed by Victoria University of Wellington researchers and commercialized by US company GreenLight Biosciences. The product uses double-stranded RNA technology to silence reproductive genes in varroa mites, preventing them from laying eggs without killing the mites themselves. This approach differs from existing acaricide pesticides and addresses a critical problem: varroa mites have begun developing resistance to current treatments across Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. Since the varroa destructor mite arrived in Australia in 2022, it has devastated wild bee populations and created economic pressure on beekeepers, with a 2026 industry survey showing 32.2% of respondents planning to exit the sector. The biopesticide is administered through a sugar wash solution spread by bees throughout the hive and is reported to be safe for all bee species, though regulatory approval in Australia could take up to two years.
What's missing
The article does not specify the regulatory pathway or timeline for Norroa approval in Australia, nor does it detail the specific approval requirements or which regulatory body would oversee the process. Additionally, while the article mentions the product's safety for bees, it does not discuss potential environmental impacts, non-target effects on other organisms, or long-term ecological considerations of releasing an RNA-based biopesticide.
What different sources said
- ABC AustraliaCenter
Beekeepers call for access to new biopesticide to target varroa mite
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