A world organisation representing beekeepers and the honey industry is stepping up its fight against fake honey.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 4 minutes 15 seconds 4 m 15 s Jodie Goldsworthy from Beechworth Honey is taking part of the world fight against fake honey ( Warwick Long ) Download 3.9 MB

The group called Apimondia said there had been a proliferation of fake honey, which generally was modified corn syrup, around the globe which was undercutting the price of the real stuff.

Beechworth Honey's Jodie Goldsworthy was appointed president of the Oceania Region of Apimondia last week and is now part of a group created to intensify the fight against fake honey.

"I think it was a monumental moment when the world together decided that this issue is something that threatens the very existence of beekeeping around the globe," she said.

A number of pests and diseases afflicting bees in different parts of the world means there has been a shortage of honey.

That shortage has led to a cheaper alternative being created and widely distributed around the world.

"They call it honey when it's not. It's just sugar syrups," Ms Goldsworthy said.

The fake honey made in a laboratory is cheaper to produce than real honey from bees, and beekeepers say they can't compete on price.

"Some of that product that I refuse to even call honey can be bought on the world market for about a third of the cost that beekeepers are paid in Australia," Ms Goldsworthy said.

The group plans to better educate the public and law makers around the world about the existence of fake honey, push for greater testing of honey imports to identify fake honey, and pool resources to help improve that testing.

Ms Goldsworthy believes real honey producers and beekeepers need support so they can continue the pollination service they provide to the community, and can continue producing the natural product they are renowned for.