Submissions open for Community Bee Innovation Fund Grant Program (Australia)

Deadline: 24-Mar-25

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Community Bee Innovation Fund (CBIF) grant program aligns to the Queensland Government’s Good Jobs objective, “Backing small business: Help small business, the backbone of the state’s economy, thrive in a changing environment”.

It seeks to boost Queensland’s bee biosecurity, increase bee-related business resilience, and protect their environment, economy, industries, and communities from the impacts of the varroa mite.

Objectives

• The objectives of the CBIF grant program are to support the:
  • delivery of innovative community engagement regarding Varroa destructor (varroa mite), and
  • development of innovative varroa mite management and monitoring tools.

Funding Information

• Round one available funding (excluding GST): $150,000
• Projects must be completed by 30 April 2027 and have a minimum eligible grant fund expenditure of at least $5,000 and a maximum of $50,000 (excluding GST).

Eligible Costs

• The CBIF grant program can fund all direct costs associated with the project, excluding capital expenditure. This includes:
  • General operating costs directly associated with the project.
  • Business as usual costs directly associated with the project.
  • Staff wages or salaries for employees’ time for work on the project.
  • Travel costs directly associated with the project.
  • Contractor or consultant fees for the project.
  • Catering and event costs associated with the project.

Ineligible Costs

• The purchase of equipment.
• General operating costs not directly associated with the project.
• Business as usual costs not directly associated with the project.
• Staff wages or salaries for employees’ time for work other than on the project.
• Travel costs not directly associated with the project.
• Expenses that have been incurred before entering into an agreement with the Queensland Government.

Outcomes

• Objective 1: Develop innovative community engagement regarding varroa mite:
  • Associated 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
  • Associated 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.

Eligible Projects

• Based on the objectives, target areas of CBIF grant project applications should include:
  • Engagement targeting demographics not typically represented in conventional extension services.
  • Development of tools to assist beekeeping and pollination-reliant industries manage varroa mite and its impacts including surveillance, monitoring, management, and treatment.
• Projects must achieve at least one of the CBIF grant program objectives and at least one of its associated outcomes.
• Projects must deliver tangible, practical benefits for Queensland varroa mite management.

Ineligible Projects

• The CBIF grant program is unable to fund:
  • Projects that result in commercialisation and profit-making.
  • Projects with results that are only available to club/organisation members.
  • Projects that are already funded by other sources.
  • Projects that do not deliver tangible, practical benefits for Queensland varroa mite management.
  • Projects with any funding overlap with the National Varroa Mite Management Program (NVMMP).
  • Projects involving staff from the Queensland Government (but please note Queensland government schools can apply).
  • Projects that do not address at least one CBIF objective and at least one associated outcome.
  • Projects that provide a sole benefit to an individual or company.
  • Projects that have already started before entering into an agreement with the Queensland Government.
  • Projects that are required by law or as part of an approval under Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation.
  • Projects that are in breach or likely to cause a breach of Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation.
  • Projects that are likely to have significant adverse impact on Indigenous cultural heritage.
  • Projects that do not comply with or have the necessary or requisite approvals under relevant Commonwealth, State or Territory legislative requirements.
  • Projects that are for political advocacy.
  • Projects that do not have a public benefit.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be a legal entity and able to enter into a legal binding agreement with the State of Queensland acting through the DPI. Eligible applicants include:
  • incorporated not-for-profit organisations, cooperatives, clubs and associations
  • schools and universities
  • local governments in Queensland
  • partnerships
  • incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
  • companies and businesses.
• The applicant’s main business location must be Queensland (according to the ABN).
• Under the same ABN, you can apply up to three times across the life of the grant program. Each project requires a separate application.

For more information, visit DPI.