BEE specialist Daniel Martin has won a Churchill Fellowship to study Varroa mite.
It is an exotic honeybee parasite which poses a serious threat to agriculture, horticulture and the honey industry
An apiary inspector with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, David will travel to the US next year for seven weeks to study control methods used by American beekeepers and researchers.
He said Australia was the only nation that remained free of varroa mite.
"I constantly feel it's knocking on an invisible door," Daniel said.
"We need to make sure industry and government are prepared and have the capability to respond to this threat which could cost our nation in excess of $2 billion."
Daniel is one of 19 Victorians awarded a 2010 Churchill fellowship for overseas study in their chosen field.
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in Australia is 1965.
It receives more than 1000 applications a year and awards about 100 fellowships.
For more details, phone 1800 777 231 or visit the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust website.
