Australia: A new national barley breeding program is aiming to help growers boost production

Australia’s 6.6 million tonne barley industry must more than double production, increase average yields from 2 t/ha to 2.6 t/ha and expand the growing area from 3.3 million hectares to 5 - 5.3 million ha to satisfy expected demand increases by 2020, ezigrain posted on May 18.

To help barley growers achieve this, key research organisations involved in barley breeding have recommended the development of a national barley breeding program, to be named Barley Breeding Australia (BBA).

Foundation BBA participants include: the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), WA Department of Agriculture, SA Research and Development Institute, NSW and Victorian Departments of Primary Industries, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the University of Adelaide.

According to GRDC Managing Director, Peter Reading, BBA will be underpinned by a national market focused business plan and determined to achieve best operating practice in barley breeding.

The program will establish close ties with industry, including growers, Barley Australia, maltsters and the newly established Livestock Feed Grain Users Group.

“To maximise positive outcomes, BBA will embrace a whole of industry approach, taking strategic direction from Australia’s multi-billion dollar barley industry, which had a farm-gate value of $1.5 billion in 2004/05 and total value chain worth substantially more,” he said.

Three regionally managed breeding nodes, west, south-east and north, will be established.

The BBA Management Committee will ensure intellectual property issues do not impede operations, giving breeders full license and freedom to operate and access germplasm, markers and software. It will also establish benchmarks and key performance indicators to monitor the program’s performance.