A landmark finding for NZ mānuka honey industry

Bees at the entrance to a hive positioned close to mānuka bushes. (Image: Getty)

Mon, 29 Jan 2024

New Zealand scientists say the country's mānuka is a different species from the Australian version after several years of genetic studies into the plant.That finding could provide new ammunition for a domestic honey industry smarting after losing a 2023 bid to trademark “mānuka honey” in NZ.Australian and NZ plants are classified as one species named Leptospermum scoparium. But years-long genetic research indicates the Australian and NZ plants diverged between 10 and 12 million years ago with little cross-pollination since. ...

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