IT is rare that industry bodies, individual members and government are in agreeance, but that's what happened when a levy on the price of honey was announced in the federal budget.
Lamorna Osborne, of the Illawarra Beekeepers Association, said an increase in levies paid by professional beekeepers will go towards an increase in biosecurity.
The National Bee Biosecurity Program is an early warning system to improve surveillance for exotic pests of honey bees.
The levy, supported by professional beekeepers in Australia, will help fund a biosecurity officer in each state of Australia to educate and watch for pests.
The threat that has apiarists and farmers worried is the varroa mite, a blood-sucking creature that replicates in the honeycomb and attacks baby bees.
It has caused the demise of bees across the world and therefore a decline in quantity and quality of food such as strawberries — without bees the berries don't develop colour, taste or size, Dr Osborne said.
"When there's no natural pollinators for our crops there's a drop in production of food."
While the honey levy fee will be passed on to the consumer Dr Osborne said the impact will be minimal.
"The poor season this year will have a bigger impact on price than the honey levy."
Heavy rains washed away much of the nectar, meaning costs are likely to increase, she said.