Despite dual market challenges, Aussie company produces highest-grade Manuka honey on record

Amid unveiling the world’s highest MGO (methylglyoxal) Manuka honey on record, global honey industry pioneer Biosota Organics finds itself at the intersection of two contrasting challenges facing the global Manuka honey market.

While New Zealand copes with an oversupply of lower-grade activity Manuka honey, Australia is grappling with a scarcity of high-grade medicinal Manuka honey, with no substantial harvest season for top-tier varieties for the past three years.

CEO Andrey Zubko says weather variations, droughts, floods, bushfires and pests has contributed to the lack of a good harvest season.

“We are at the mercy of nature, where the perfect alignment of Manuka flower species, optimal climate and production methods is essential for achieving naturally high activity levels of MGO,” says Mr Zubko.

“These challenges are compounded by the fact that only three out of the 83 species of Manuka found in Australia produce the high bioactivity levels found in Biosota’s medicinal grade Manuka honey.

“With the maturation process taking an additional 12-24 months post-harvest and the 2020 harvest batches nearly sold out, there is increasing pressure on remaining stocks.

“While we are optimistic that the harvest season will improve, we are beholden to the unpredictability of nature, so it’s not something that can be guaranteed or forecast.”

On the flip side, New Zealand is contending with an oversupply of lower-grade MGO Manuka honey due to a surge in beekeeping driven by high market prices. 

Unlike Australia, New Zealand has one Manuka species, Leptospermum scoparium, which doesn’t produce MGO levels as high as its Australian counterpart, with the bulk production in controlled environments and plantations, resulting in quantity over quality. 

Mr Zubko says Biosota’s point of difference remains their rare and limited high medicinal Manuka honey range.

“We have managed to source additional reserves from our co-operative of Manuka beekeepers, ensuring a stable supple for the nest 12 months.”

Mr Zubko says an oversupply of lower strength grades of Manuka honey has led to increased competition and lower prices in supermarkets.

“With demand remaining high for quality and higher strengths of organic Manuka honey, both locally and abroad, these products are fetching higher prices online,” says Mr Zubko.

Mr Zubko says despite the challenges of an unpredictable industry, Biosota has set a new standard, launching a limited production of the highest-grade MGO Manuka honey on record, which is rigorously lab-tested to ensure authenticity.

“Only 500 jars of MGO 2100+ were produced and represent less than one percent of all kinds of honey, making it an extremely coveted and unique taste of Australia,” says Mr Zubko.

“Our MGO 2100+ Manuka honey’s path from hive to customer is a deliberate blend of nature and science, with as little human interference as possible, ensuring that its high grade and quality stay entirely intact.”

Manuka honey’s unique bioactive component Methylglyoxal (MGO) is responsible for the honey’s antibacterial capabilities and the potency of these bioactive properties increases proportionally with higher MGO levels. 

Available in three sizes, 70g, 250g and 500g, Biosota’s MGO 2100+ comes in a patented MIRON Violetglass jar, with the 500g jar including a special temperature sensor lid.

“Each of Biosota’s MGO 2100+ Manuka honey is carefully hand poured into a patented MIRON Violetglass jar, a unique biophotonic container designed for high-grade natural products that preserve the honey naturally, as if it was still in the beehive,” says Mr Zubko.

“We recommend storing all Manuka honey at room temperature, around 18 to 22 degrees Celsius, so the sensor lids enable you to keep your honey in perfect condition.”

Mr Zubko says to assure the quality and originality of each harvest, Biosota’s products are rigorously tested by independently accredited laboratories.

“Every batch of Biostoa Manuka honey is tested in two independent laboratories for its MGO levels and customers can access these lab reports on individual product pages or email us for the latest report,” says Mr Zubko.

High medicinal-grade Manuka honey can be used for wounds, ulcers, infections, burns and most notably, for antibiotic-resistant infections such as MRSA and golden staph infections.

Biosota Organics is a third-generation family-owned and operated business that combines three generations of beekeeping expertise with the unique Australian environment to create the world’s rarest and finest high-grade MGO Manuka honey.