Through this agreement, WBF will oversee all on-the- ground operations of the BFF program in Australia, and offer valuable insights and expertise on pollinator conservation in Australia. This partnership will further expand the BFF program and result in the integration of countless hectares of sustainable and managed pollinator habitat across agricultural and urban landscapes.
Since 2013, the Bee Friendly Farming® program has certified and recognized farmers that meet the 5 established criteria to support pollinators. These certified growers incorporate habitat and best management practices for pollinators directly into their operations and set an example for balancing agriculture and conservation. The program also offers accreditation for Bee Friendly Gardens.
Along with the certification, commercial growers are able to use the BFF logo on marketing and promotional materials, and on their product labels, providing increased recognition for their invaluable work to conserve pollinators. Pollinator Partnership™ is delighted to bring this program to Australia with the wonderful support and expertise of their esteemed partner, The Wheen Bee Foundation.
“We are so proud and excited to be partnering with the Wheen Bee Foundation to bring proven Bee Friendly Farming® certification practices to Australia. We cannot think of a better support for pollinators and farming than this program now in the capable hands of the Wheen Bee Foundation in Australia. The goal is to increase habitat and best IPM practices while supporting real benefits to the farming community as well as pollinators, and it really works“ said Laurie Davies Adams, President of Pollinator Partnership™.
“We are thrilled to be working with Pollinator Partnership to bring Bee Friendly Farming to Australia” said Fiona Chambers, CEO, Wheen Bee Foundation. “Our organisational values are strongly aligned and we like the way the program caters for farmers and gardeners and takes a whole of landscape approach to supporting bees and other pollinators”.
“The BFF program is a good fit for our Australian farmers. It is grounded in science and creates positive impact for pollinators because the land and management practices being certified are practical, achievable and deliver measurable results,” Chambers added.
The Wheen Bee Foundation will designate staff to oversee all operations of the program within Australia, and form an Australian BFF Taskforce that will function in tandem with the NAPPC BFF Taskforce. The Taskforce will comprise scientists, farmers, beekeepers, and other knowledgeable experts in pollinator conservation and will provide valuable recommendations and suggestions to the program. The Taskforce will also oversee all compliance auditing. The BFF Australia Coordinator will communicate directly with the P2 BFF Coordinator to maintain consistency and the highest level of certification approval. This bilateral partnership and communication will result in the application of regionally specific recommendations and best management practices for pollinator conservation.
Through this partnership, Bee Friendly Farming® will continue to expand and be recognised as a leading certification program for pollinator conservation in agriculture, and will result in more seeds and trees being planted for pollinator habitat worldwide.
ABOUT BEE FRIENDLY FARMING® (BFF)
Bee Friendly Farming® Australia is a certification program from Pollinator PartnershipTM that provides guidelines for farmers and gardeners interested in promoting pollinator health on their lands.To learn more about Bee Friendly Farming® Australia visit https://www.beefriendlyfarming.org.au
ABOUT POLLINATOR PARTNERSHIP
Pollinator Partnership™ is the largest non-profit 501(c)3 organization in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems. P2 oversees numerous projects and programs throughout North America including Bee Friendly Farming®, Project Wingspan, Monarch Wings Across America, National Pollinator Week, and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC). To learn more about Pollinator Partnership visit https://www.pollinator.org/
ABOUT THE WHEEN BEE FOUNDATION
Wheen Bee Foundation is a registered Australian charity that raises awareness of the importance of bees for food security, biodiversity and ecosystem health and funds research and programs that address national and global threats to bees. To learn more about Wheen Bee Foundation visit https://www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au/
Imagine walking amongst almond trees that are just about to burst into bloom, with bees foraging amongst nearby native vegetation, and in cover-crops, waiting for the swollen buds to unfold. This is the picture of sustainable bee-friendly practices envisioned by the Almond Board of Australia (ABA).
Bee Friendly Farming’s popular tree grants are now open, with farmers across the country being supported to join the pledge to plant 100,000 trees for bees.
Wayfinder in Western Australia’s Margaret River wine region has wider ambitions than simply creating a delicious drop in a bottle. Theirs is a long-term vision to integrate habitat conservation, environmental restoration, and organic certification for their vineyard and farm.
Multi-generational family farmers have recently enhanced local habitat by revegetating almost a hectare of less-productive pasture. The Peel family is one of the first successful applicants for Bee Friendly Farming® certification in Australia, and they are also recent successful recipients of funding from the affiliated Tree Grants program.
2 Responses
we have a hobby farm and i do a lot of gardening for the wildlife, i have always wanted to do bees with a flow hive but i am unable to afford it does this come with doing this? i have lots of stingless bees here and made them gardens.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for your interest in BFF. The program doesn’t supply bee hives, and doesn’t require you to keep managed bees. Planting to have flowers across the seasons, providing habitat, avoiding the use of pesticides and practicing integrated pest management goes a long way to supporting both our wild and managed pollinators. For information about Flow hives have a look at their website https://www.honeyflow.com.au/ It has lots of information for the beginner beekeeper and is a great place to help get you started. Good luck with your gardening!