EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PROPOSAL TO IMPORT BOMBUS TERRESTRIS INTO MAINLAND AUSTRALIA FOR CROP POLLINATION PURPOSES PROPONENTS – AUSTRALIAN HYDROPONIC & GREENHOUSE ASSOCIATION PO BOX 538, NARRABEEN NSW PH: (03) 9939 5993 FAX: (03) 9939 5993 EMAIL:
[email protected] WEBSITE: http://www.ahga.org.au Disclaimer This report was prepared by the Australian Hydroponic and Greenhouse Association. The material in it reflects the Association‟s best judgment on the information available to it at the time of preparation. Any use which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decisions to be made based on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. The Australian Hydroponic & Greenhouse Association accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this report. © This report is copyright 2008 and protected under the Berne Convention. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this report may be reproduced in any form, including photocopying, microfilm, information storage and retrieval system, computer database, or software, or by any means, including electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the Australian Hydroponic & Greenhouse Association. 1. The purpose and scope of the document This document is the culmination of over 10 years investigation into the proposed importation of a European bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, into Australia in managed hives for pollination purposes. While originally use in a wide range of field and greenhouse crops was envisaged, the proposal has been narrowed down to pollination of greenhouse crops, particularly tomatoes, in fully enclosed structures.