Producing calm and docile bees for New Zealand beekeepers is the goal for a Mosgiel-based honeybee breeding programme. Betta Bees Research, based in the Invermay Agricultural Centre, were selecting the best of the best queen bees for artificial insemination to provide New Zealand beekeepers with gentle, quiet bees to work with. Co-owner Robert Waddell said it was estimated that 30% to 35% of commercially kept bees across New Zealand were influenced by their breeding programme. The purpose of the programme was to produce bees that beekeepers would not be hesitant to work with. "A gentle hive is a healthier hive."

Source: Otago Daily Times February 24, 2026 15:36 UTC