A Bibra Lake innovator, Red Earth Pollen is set for a $3 million boost to a project that aims to transform propolis – the resinous substance that bees use to seal and protect their hives against disease – into a bioactive ingredient for use in health and therapeutic products.
The project will build Australia’s first comprehensive propolis extraction and product development ecosystem, allowing the beehive byproduct to be turned into bioactive extracts for pharmaceutical, chemical and microbiological use.
The funding will support:
Red Earth Pollen is one of 27 recipients sharing in $66 million through the latest round of the Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Program, which prioritised robotics and technical elevation projects, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
For more information on the CRC-P Program and a full list of successful Round 18 CRC-Ps, visit www.business.gov.au/crc-p
Round 19 of the CRC-P grants program opens 18 March 2026, with eligible partnerships encouraged to apply for up to $3 million for projects with a focus on artificial intelligence that develop or enhance AI systems and technologies.
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Fremantle, Josh Wilson:
“I’m pleased to support Red Earth Pollen’s leading-edge propolis project that strives to advance scientific understanding and broaden the income stream for Western Australian beekeepers by value-adding to a little-regarded honey byproduct.
“The Albanese Government is backing Australian jobs and ingenuity right here in our community as we work to deliver a secure, strong and competitive Australian made future.”
Quotes attributable to Red Earth Pollen Founder and CEO, Dr Mathew Welch:
“This project is about unlocking the potential of a truly remarkable natural resource. Australian propolis comes from some of the most biodiverse forests on Earth, and we are only just beginning to understand its biological potential.”
“The CRC-P funding allows us to bring together leading Australian researchers and industry partners to develop the science and processing capability needed to turn Australian propolis into high-value health products.”
“Australia has extraordinary biodiversity, but historically we have exported raw natural products rather than building industries around them. This project is about creating the science and manufacturing capability to turn Australian bee products into globally recognised health ingredients.”
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