QLD Community Bee Innovation Fund (CBIF)

Purpose and Program Overview

The Community Bee Innovation Fund (CBIF) is a Queensland Government grant program designed to help beekeepers and pollination‑reliant industries manage and prepare for the impacts of the varroa mite (Varroa destructor). It supports innovative projects that strengthen bee biosecurity, improve hive health and promote more resilient pollination services across Queensland.

The program provides a total funding pool of $500,000 (excluding GST) in Round 3 to support projects that deliver new education, training and engagement initiatives or develop practical varroa mite management and monitoring tools. By targeting both community capability and technical solutions, the CBIF plays a broader role in safeguarding the agricultural and horticultural industries that rely on European honeybees for pollination and productivity.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount or funding range: From $5,000 to $50,000 per project (excluding GST).
• Application open and close dates: Round 3 is now open and will close at 5:00 pm (AEST) on Monday, 2 March 2026.
• Eligible industries or business types: Beekeeping organisations, agricultural and horticultural industries reliant on bee pollination, and related education, research and local government bodies.
• Required co-contributions: No specific cash co‑contribution is mandated in the published material; applicants should review the official guidelines and budget template for any cost‑sharing or in‑kind contribution expectations.
• Location/state/territory applicability: Projects must benefit Queensland beekeepers and pollination‑reliant industries, and applicants must be eligible organisations operating in Queensland.

Priority Sectors

The program prioritises sectors that are directly or indirectly reliant on European honey bees, particularly:

• Commercial beekeeping and apiculture in Queensland.
• Agricultural and horticultural industries that depend on managed pollination services (for example, fruit, nuts, berries and vegetables).

Where projects meet the objectives and outcomes of the program, the grant is open to a broad range of eligible organisations that support bee health, biosecurity and pollination services in Queensland.

Funding Scope

For Round 3, individual grants range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $50,000 (excluding GST) per project, drawn from a total funding pool of $500,000 (excluding GST) for the round. There is no separate dollar range per stream; instead, projects are funded within this overall range based on merit and alignment with the program objectives.

Funding supports two main categories of activity:

• Education, engagement and training projects focused on varroa mite awareness, capability building and pollination service understanding.
• Development and trialling of new or improved varroa mite monitoring and management tools, technologies and techniques.

Projects must meet at least one program objective and deliver at least one associated outcome, be located in Queensland, and be completed by 30 April 2027. Under a single ABN, an organisation may apply for funding for up to three separate projects across all rounds.

Eligibility Criteria

Key eligibility requirements include:

• Applicant type:
  • Queensland incorporated not‑for‑profit organisations, cooperatives, clubs and associations.​
  • Schools and universities.​
  • Local governments.​
  • Partnerships.​
  • Incorporated trustees applying on behalf of a trust.​
  • Companies and businesses operating in Queensland, including commercial beekeeping and agricultural enterprises.
• Project requirements:
  • Must meet at least one CBIF program objective and deliver at least one program outcome.​
  • Must benefit Queensland beekeepers and/or pollination‑reliant agricultural and horticultural industries.
  • Must be completed by 30 April 2027.
• Other structural/compliance settings:
  • All applications are made under an ABN, and a maximum of three separate projects can be funded across all rounds per ABN.​
  • Applicants must comply with all relevant Queensland legislation, health and safety obligations, and biosecurity requirements as detailed in the official guidelines.

No specific turnover thresholds, GST registration requirements, or insurance conditions are stated in the high‑level overview; these should be confirmed in the full guidelines and application pack.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

Eligible projects and expenses generally include activities that:

• Deliver innovative education, community engagement, awareness campaigns or practical training for beekeepers, growers and other stakeholders on varroa mite identification, management and biosecurity practices.
• Develop, adapt or trial new management tools, monitoring systems, data‑driven decision tools or biotechnical techniques to detect, monitor or control varroa mite populations.
• Build capability within bee clubs, grower groups and industry bodies through workshops, field days, demonstration apiaries, and training programs focused on mite management and pollination services.

The fund does not support projects that are primarily for the purchase of equipment only, projects focused on commercialisation and profit‑making, or projects already funded from other sources. Applicants should use the official workplan and budget templates to confirm specific eligible and ineligible cost items.

Assessment Process

The CBIF is a competitive, merit‑based grant program rather than an entitlement scheme. All eligible applications are assessed against defined criteria and ranked before funding decisions are made.

Key evaluation criteria include:

• Project alignment and impact (60%): How well the project addresses at least one program objective and delivers clear, measurable outcomes for varroa mite preparedness and resilience.​
• Cost‑effectiveness and value for money (20%): The strength and realism of the budget, efficient use of public funds and scale of benefits relative to the requested grant amount.​
• Capability and expertise (20%): The applicant’s experience, technical skills, partnerships and resources to successfully deliver the project on time and within budget.​

Following the assessment, applicants are notified of outcomes in writing, and successful recipients must meet reporting and acquittal obligations, including progress and expenditure reporting against agreed milestones.​

Recent Program Updates

Round 3 of the Community Bee Innovation Fund is currently open with a total allocation of $500,000 (excluding GST) for this round and grants of $5,000 to $50,000 available per project. Earlier rounds have already awarded funding to a range of projects delivering varroa mite training, education and management activities across Queensland.

The Queensland Government has confirmed that projects funded under CBIF must be completed by 30 April 2027, providing a multi‑year window for implementation of more complex education and technology initiatives. Public communications and media statements also highlight the fund as part of a broader biosecurity and varroa mite response framework for Queensland apiarists and pollination‑reliant industries.

Application Tips

• Review the official CBIF Round 3 guidelines, program objectives and outcomes in detail before starting the application to ensure the proposed project is clearly aligned.
• Confirm organisational eligibility, ABN details and Queensland operating footprint, and ensure the project will clearly benefit Queensland beekeepers and/or pollination‑reliant agricultural and horticultural industries.
• Prepare key documents early, including a clear work plan, realistic budget, risk management approach, and evidence of capability and partnerships where relevant.
• Explicitly address each assessment criterion in the application, demonstrating project merit, strategic alignment with varroa mite preparedness, strong governance and value for money.
• Ensure all questions in the online application form are fully completed, supporting documentation is attached, and the application is submitted before 5:00 pm (AEST) on 2 March 2026.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist, such as Pattens Group, for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant, and competitive application. This can help clarify how well the project aligns with the CBIF objectives, strengthen the workplan and budget, and improve the quality of responses to the assessment criteria. For official guidelines, application details, templates and further information, visit the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Community Bee Innovation Fund webpage and the Round 3 application portal hosted on the Queensland DPI Engagement Hub. Applicants can also refer to Business Queensland’s varroa mite and bee biosecurity information pages and related Queensland Government resources for additional context and technical guidance.