WA Honey Industry

Transformation driven by industry led investment in

collaborative Research and Development

BICWA - Western Australian Honey Research and Development Group (WAHRDG)

Kenneth Dods - Food Scientist, Research Coordinator Primary Industries

ChemCentre

A brief history of DNA studies in HoneyObjectivesSustainable Honey Industry Development

• Market Pull and customer values – Market development plan, customer validation

• Industry driven and prioritized research – Research and Development plan

• Project team identification and management – Key expertise

• Attribute identification – Retaining value of the harvest, total harvest utilization

• Product development

• Supply and Production chain optimization

• Certification

• Delivery

Industry Development Program

A brief history of DNA studies in HoneyOpportunity - Need for change - Coalition of the willing – Skill alignment2001-2014 NZ Manuka Honey sector leads international growth in value of mono-floral honey for therapeutic use.

2014 Leadership from key WA Beekeepers and Main processor concerned with WA beekeeping profitability.

2014 ChemCentre approached, collaborative analytical, technical and management capabilities confirmed.

2014 First presentation on mono floral honey quality attributes and certification systems development.

2014 Formation of commercial industry consortium- 17 Beekeepers representing 80-90% of WA Honey production.

2014 WAHRDG subcommittee formed under WAFF – Industry R&D plan, Export Market Development Plan prioritized.

2015 1st grant application WAHRDG/ ChemCentre to DAFWA/DPIRD.

2016 BICWA formation Peak industry body – WAHRDG subcommittee.

2016 Emerging industry constraints identified, 2nd and 3rd grant applications WAHRDG/ ChemCentre to DPIRD.

2017 CRC Honey Bee products funded, WAHRDG/ ChemCentre 2nd largest partner – Project 1 extension to 2021.

2018 CRC Fighting Food Waste funded, projects 2 and 3 in application to be extended.

Focus• Premium, unique, rare, highly valued product• Optimized Mono-floral production - Jarrah, Marri, Yate, Powderbark – others• Product attribute identification and certification • Supply and Production Chain optimization• Distributor engagement/ certification and traceability in international markets

Program Development - to date

WAHRDG has been assisted in funding application and project management by ChemCentre to achieve industry transformation.

Key support has been provided at state level by DPIRD industry support programs.

WAHRDG is with ChemCentre a foundation partner in the CRC Honey Bee Products and is its second biggest contributor

ensuring WA applicability in this national research and development collaboration.

WAHRDG and ChemCentre are also a partner in the newly initiated CRC Fighting Food Waste.

Projects initiated

Project 1 CERTIFIABLE COMPOSITIONAL CHEMISTRY THAT PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN MARKET VALUE FOR ICONIC WA HONEY FLORAL

BRANDS

• Term 5 years, DPIRD, CRC HBP

• Industry Research Investment - $2,020,000

Project 2 INDUSTRY STANDARDS OPTIMISING STORAGE AND SUPPLY VOLUME OF WA MONO-FLORAL HONEY

• Term 4 years, DPIRD, CRC FFW

• Industry Research Investment - $1,225,000

Project 3 CERTIFIED DISTRIBUTOR DRIVEN OUTCOMES THAT DRIVE EXPORT SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE WA HONEY INDUSTRY

• Term 4 years, DPIRD, CRCFFW

• Industry Research Investment - $470,000

Project 1 Objectives

Market expansion into export markets,

based on market pull for key varietal

characteristics.

Floral differentiated products.

Increasing the knowledge of unique WA

floral compositional potential.

Establishing Industry defined quality

standards.

Supply chain optimisation targeting

retention of high value floral attributes.

Certification of final product.

Project 1 Outcomes to date

Massive change from bulked honey into domestic supermarkets Coles/ Woolworths to Mono-floral

WA honey export into international markets.

Export certification Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, EEC United

kingdom for mono-floral honeys. Certified distributor network established

Natural compositional diversity of mono-floral varieties Jarrah and Marri collated across two

seasons. First draft industry standard completed for these varieties.

Unique attributes identified and certified

Value increase from $3-$4 per kg bulk honey price to beekeepers to WA Jarrah honey final

packaged to customer at over $60 per kg domestic or $90 per kg international

Expansion of processing and packing capability from 1 monopoly processor to 5 processors – All

product final packed and certified prior to export.

Supply and production chain mapped for critical control points for quality

ChemCentre - First NATA certified laboratory in Australia for all legally defensible honey tests

required for WA honey international trade. Reference laboratory for honey research CRC HBP.

CRC Honey Bee (CRC HBP) products established. CRC Fighting Food Waste (CRC FFW)

established

Jarrah Certification - Natural Diversity Trials - Supply Chain Optimization

Project 2 Objectives1.Optimisation of licensed site use

2.Technical and software systems allowing

supply chain management and traceability

to meet new industry standards, a

flowering event communication portal and

international customer interaction tool.

3.Use of satellite imaging CRC site

measures and tests (sap, leaf, nectar,

blossom set) that assist in predicting

nectar quality for potential honey volumes

4. Use of real time remote hive monitoring

to inform the beekeeper of hive

performance

5.Improving bee health and productivity

using optimized diet and nutrition..

6.Optimisation of storage parameters that

allow retention of certified product

attributes.

Project 2 Outcomes Stage I site use portal development initiated (DBCA, DPIRD, BICWA collaboration)

Static BICWA website front end completed. Industry secure access portal in progress.

Schedule and scope initiated for Industry database to improve the quality and transparency of data in the supply chain.

RFID technology utilization to replace paper based industry BQAL traceability system instigated.

Front end Customer mobile phone app interaction tool confirming product authenticity and supplying product information instigated.

Season 1 satellite imaging for Marri flowering identification field work and publication completed – PhD Tristan Campbell

Field work bee nutrition stage 1 trials completed compositional analysis in progress - PhD Madlen Kratz

Four x 3 month storage trials monitoring compositional changes in honey which consider temperature/ time and chemical composition that influence microbiological activity parameters, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory parameters, volatile aroma and flavor composition

1x longer term storage trial initiated considering the above but also crystallization effects and reaction cycling that may effect glucose oxidase and other enzyme and pH kinetics.

Storage and supply control

Project 3 Objectives1.Strengthening of WA honey industry knowledge capacity by recognizing and vertically integrating its in-market distributor network.

2.A WA honey industry certification for distributors that legitimizes them in their marketplace.

3.A peak industry body (BICWA) website promoting WA product marketing and standards that also provides an international research portal as a hub for research and product communication

4.WA Industry alignment with new country of origin legislation, logo and marketing recognition initiatives.

5.Registration of a WA Mono-floral honey trademark.

6.Assessment of complimentary tools to strengthen product integrity and traceability including rapid diagnostic/ in field tracking and compositional fingerprint technologies.

7.Product standard reinforcements using both industry awards recognizing product excellence and blind in-market basket surveys that initiate intervention or legal strategies.

Project 3 Outcomes to dateMassive change from bulked honey into domestic supermarkets Coles/ Woolworths to Mono-floral WA honey export into international markets.

Export certification Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, EEC United kingdom for mono-floral honeys. Certified distributor network established

Certified distributor network initiated

WA Honey Marketing Group (WAHMG) subcommittee established

WA Chamber of Commerce assisting with AusIndustry - Honey industry recognition for marketing grant applications.

China International Import Expo – Shanghai NoV 5-10 2018, two trade booths operational

Industry standard, quality Trademark initiated with FB Rice Trademark attorneys

Trademark Design competition initiated - $1500 graphic design prize

Rapid diagnostic calibrations made for NMR and FTIR screens (30 sample) 150 sample expansion initiated

Aroma and volatiles capability established, 1st storage trial initiated

Industry survey and Market basket survey 1 initiated

Traceability -Certified Distributor Engagement - Supply Chain Extension

A brief history of DNA studies in HoneyWhat is Quality - Meets Customer Expectations

A CERTIFIED PRODUCT REASSURES A BUYER A PRODUCT IS;

• Consistent.

• Appropriate to the market value sought.

• True in presentation and label.

• Traceable to source.

• Responsibly and sustainably obtained.

• Nutritious, healthy, therapeutic, medicinal.

• Fit for its suggested end use purpose.

Customer satisfaction Creates Sustained Value

A brief history of DNA studies in HoneyChemCentreStrategic Capability Development• Industry engagement

• Legal – Contracts, IP, Commercial development, Confidentiality,

Breach management

• Financial leverage – Grant applications – State, Federal,

International

• Financial Management

Delivery• Staff

• Instrumentation

• Methodology

• Planning and implementing trials

• Interpretation

• Extended researcher network – Universities, Authorities,

Industry Bodies

• Media management and extension

Systems and Tools• Independent Audited Research Delivery Capability

• Industry engagement meetings

• Industry management meetings

• Cloud Research R&D interaction space

• Signa management system

• Gantt chart project management

• ISO Quality systems

• Safety systems

• World class analytical capacity – International standard

• NATA and ISO Reporting systems

• Industry extension events

• International publications

• Valued reputation

• 105 years of industry support

• Oldest NATA certified laboratory in Australia

Questions/ Open Discussion

Dwellingup - AS 4042 - 12 December 2017: 3.30 pm

Dedication: Stephen Davies – Inaugural Chair WAHRDG