Community Bee Innovation Fund
Grant applications closed
- Round 2 is now closed.
- Email varroamitegrants@dpi.qld.gov.au to stay informed about round 3.
The Community Bee Innovation Fund (CBIF) grant program seeks to:
- boost Queensland's bee biosecurity
- increase bee-related business resilience
- protect our environment, economy, industries and communities from the impacts of varroa mite (Varroa destructor).
Program objectives and outcomes
The $500,000 (excluding GST) program provides funding for innovative projects that enhance varroa mite management in Queensland, preparing our beekeepers and pollination-reliant industries for future challenges.
Objective 1: Deliver innovative community engagement regarding varroa mite
Outcomes:
- Pollination-reliant industries in Queensland increase their knowledge of varroa mites and develop an awareness of the need to pay beekeepers for pollination services.
- Industries not targeted in conventional extension services increase their knowledge of varroa mites.
- Queensland beekeepers increase their knowledge and skills to incorporate varroa mite management into their business-as-usual activities.
- Partnerships are formed to create mutually beneficial outcomes for monitoring or managing varroa mites.
Objective 2: Develop innovative varroa mite management or monitoring tools
Outcomes:
- Queensland beekeepers access new or improved data-driven decision-making tools to choose appropriate varroa mite management or monitoring techniques.
- Queensland beekeepers adopt new or improved varroa mite management or monitoring techniques.
- The spread of varroa mites across Queensland is limited to natural spread as much as possible.
- Varroa mite populations are slow to establish in new areas.
Available funding
Your project budget must range from $5,000 to $50,000 (excluding GST).
Eligible projects and expenses
Your project must:
- meet at least 1 of our program objectives
- deliver at least 1 of our program outcomes
- benefit Queensland beekeepers and/or associated industries (i.e. agricultural or horticultural industries reliant on European honeybees for pollination)
- be completed by 30 April 2027.
'Innovative' can mean completely new or something existing, applied or tweaked in a new way.
For example, your project might aim to:
- create a new varroa mite monitoring technique
- host a local varroa mite management field day
- develop a varroa mite integrated pest management (IPM) tool.
Your project budget must range from $5,000 to $50,000 (excluding GST).
You can use the grant funds to cover future project-related expenses such as:
- general operating costs
- business-as-usual costs
- staff wages or salaries for employees' time
- travel and accommodation costs
- function space hire fees
- contractor/consultant fees
- printing
- material and equipment up to $5,000 (excluding GST)
- catering and event costs.
You cannot use the grant funding for:
- projects that are primarily for the purchase of equipment only
- projects that result in commercialisation and profit-making
- projects already funded from other sources.
Who can apply
The grants are open to Queensland:
- incorporated not-for-profit organisations, cooperatives, clubs and associations
- schools and universities
- local governments
- partnerships
- incorporated trustees on behalf of a trust
- companies and businesses.
Under the same ABN, you can apply for funding for a maximum of 3 separate projects across all rounds.
See section 4 of the guidelines for more details.
Key dates
There will be 3 rounds of funding:
- Round 1: Recipients awarded
- Round 2: Assessments underway
- Round 3: To be advised
To stay informed about the timing of round 3, email varroamitegrants@dpi.qld.gov.au.
How to apply
Read the guidelines to understand what the grant covers and what you need to include in your application.
Step 1: Understand the program requirements
We assess each eligible application against the following criteria:
- Project alignment and impact (60%): How well your project achieves at least 1 of the grant program objectives and its associated outcomes.
- Cost-effectiveness and value for money (20%): Evaluating the financial feasibility and effective use of the grant funds.
- Capability and expertise (20%): The qualifications and experience of your team to deliver the project.
See section 6 of the guidelines for more details.
Step 2: Complete the workplan and budget
Download the workplan and budget document (XLSX, 96KB) and follow the instructions to complete the 2 tabs—ensuring all green boxes are complete.
Tab 1 — Workplan
You need to show how your project will achieve 1 or both program objectives and the relevant outcomes.
- Column B: choose the objective/s your project will achieve from the dropdown options.
- Column D: choose the relevant outcome/s that apply to your project.
- Column E: nominate quantitative indicators for each of the outcomes you selected. These are the measurable things you will use to monitor the performance of your project.
- For each indicator:
- Column F: nominate a target number that your project will achieve
- Column G: describe how you will collect the data.
- Column H: describe the key actions you will undertake for each outcome, for the 3 reporting periods specified.
- Row 41: briefly describe to what extent your project will achieve the objective/s and outcome/s you have chosen.
Tab 2 — Budget
For each reporting period, describe the costs anticipated for your project.
Email varroamitegrants@dpi.qld.gov.au if you have any questions about how to complete this document.
Step 3: Submit your application online
We recommend you register on the eHub so you can save your progress as you complete your application.
Complete the application questions, saving as you go. Questions include:
- organisation and contact details
- grant amount requested
- project start and end dates, location and overview
- project partners (if applicable)
- project description
- project risks and mitigation
- expertise and capability you will use to deliver your project.
Upload your completed workplan and budget and submit before the deadline.
After you submit
We will assess each application against the eligibility requirements and merit assessment criteria.
We will advise you in writing of the outcome of your application.
If your application is successful, you will need to regularly report on:
- your progress towards meeting activities, milestones and outcomes
- the project expenditure.
See section 7 of the guidelines for more details.
Contact us
Our team is here to help you prepare a successful application.
Email varroamitegrants@dpi.qld.gov.au if you have questions about:
- the timing of round 3
- the application process
- your project eligibility
- funding requirements.
Awarded rounds
Round 1
Funding of up to $150,000 was allocated to the following successful round 1 grant recipients.
| Organisation | Project name | Status* |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland Beekeepers Association Inc. | The Queensland Beekeepers Association will ensure the latest varroa mite information is freely available to all Queensland beekeepers and will provide practical in-apiary varroa mite training events. | Early implementation |
| Gold Coast Amateur Beekeepers Society Inc. | Through free training events, the Gold Coast Amateur Beekeepers Society will increase the capability of Queensland beekeepers to incorporate biotechnical management options (i.e. brood interruptions and queen rearing) into their varroa mite integrated pest management strategies. | Early implementation |
| Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers Ltd. | Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers Ltd will facilitate a series of varroa mite workshops to meet a need to support pollination-reliant growers. Queensland pollination-reliant growers will be engaged and educated about the varroa mite life cycle, the pest's impact on bees, pollination, produce yield and quality, and how growers can actively engage in partnerships with beekeepers for pollination services. | Early implementation |
| Southern Beekeepers Association (Queensland) Inc. | Queensland beekeepers and the public will be actively engaged and educated about the seriousness and management of varroa mite by the Southern Beekeepers Association (Qld) Inc. The organisation will host free practical field days and attend community events to encourage widespread understanding and best practice monitoring and management. | Early implementation |
* Status
- Withdrawn: not proceeding
- Early implementation: project planning has commenced
- In delivery: project activities are in full delivery
- Complete: final project report has been submitted and finalised