But this idea has not been met with positivity from all in the community, with some saying it would harm the state’s honey bee population. 

A senate hearing in Hobart on Tuesday looked into using Tasmania’s exotic bumblebee population for commercial pollination. 

Bumblebees have lived in Tasmania for about 25 years and experts say it is no longer feasible to eradicate them.

Several witnesses said they would support a trial into the supply of bumblebees to pollinate crops, meaning an amendment to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act would have to be made. 

But Tasmanian Beekeepers Association president Lindsay Bourke said he was strongly against the idea. 

“It will be detrimental if they bring in new genetics for bumblebees to our honey bee propagation,” he said. 

“[Bumblebees] suck every single bit of nectar out of a plant, unlike our bees. By the time it warms up enough for our bees to come out and forage, there is nothing left.

“We won’t be able to get our bees up to scratch to keep up with all the pollinating needs that we are required to do in Tasmania.” 

Fruit Growers Tasmania spokesman Phil Pyke said the growth of the bumblebees had gone without research as, currently, they cannot be used for commercial pollination. 

“We know that they are effective pollinators … that they have a minimal impact on the environment and, indeed, the European honey bees,” Mr Pyke said. 

“Bumblebees are more effective by the fact that they work earlier, they work in lower temperature.” 

Tasmanian Labor Senator Anne Urquhart said she supported the trial. 

“The call from the horticultural industry, academics and the Tasmanian government is that there should be a trial using Tasmania’s endemic bumblebees,” Senator Urquhart said. 

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said a trial would have to be conducted in two parts. 

“The first to test whether a population of wild caught bumblebees can be contained and pollinate tomatoes effectively,” he said.

“The second stage would focus on breeding, but only if the first stage was successful.”