B-QUAL Australia has been given $189,000 to assure the integrity of supply chains that deliver premium honey products to markets around the world.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the funding was part of the Federal Government’s $7 million Traceability Grants Program.
“Pure Australian honey is truly one of the world’s great foods,” Mr Littleproud said.
“In a global market where premium food commands a premium price, trust is our greatest asset.
“That’s why the Australian Government is supporting B-QUAL, an Australian honey assurance system that tracks product from flower and field to the customer’s kitchen.”
B-QUAL will develop a flora database and a national honey library to ensure customers receive products of the highest standard.
“This should give total peace of mind to our customers both domestically and internationally of greater transparency of the product origin,” Mr Littleproud said.
B-QUAL will work closely with the Federal Government-funded Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products to develop the Honey Assurance and Traceability Program.
B-QUAL director Don Muir said B-QUAL was excited to be undertaking a project that proves Australia produces some of the world’s best honey.
“The ability to trace Australian honey sources will also inherently increase biosecurity benefits for the industry by way of tracking disease or pest outbreaks through bio-geographical regions,” Mr Muir said.
The project is one of 16 to share in $4 million funding under the first round of the Traceability Grants Program.
For more details, visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/market-access-trade/traceability-grants-program
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