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Pulse Breeding Australia, a new pulse joint venture, will deliver better varieties faster

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Australia
March 15, 2007

• Joint venture coordinating Australian pulse breeding efforts
• Better pulse varieties delivered to Australian growers faster
• Improved efficiencies and pulse breeding outcomes

Producers are set to benefit greatly from the formation of an unincorporated joint venture aimed at delivering superior pulse varieties for the Australian grains industry.

Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA), launched today at the University of Adelaide, will coordinate Australia’s pulse breeding efforts and create a world-class breeding and germplasm enhancement program according to inaugural PBA chairman Peter Reading (photo).

Mr Reading, who is also managing director of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), said the creation of PBA would help to underpin the sustainability of the Australian grains industry.

“Pulses are an important part of Australian grain production, both as export crops in their own right and as part of crop rotations,” he said. “The aim of PBA is to coordinate a cost-effective pulse breeding program that develops new, superior varieties more quickly for our farmers.

“Its focus will be on monitoring reliable market signals, accessing elite germplasm for breeding efforts and rapid adoption by Australian growers of new lentil, faba bean, chickpea and field pea varieties that have been developed for, and field-tested in, local conditions.

“The grains industry is excited by the potential of PBA to enable greater collaboration and resource sharing in pulse breeding to improve efficiencies and effectiveness.

“The GRDC strongly supports this joint venture as part of our objective to deliver to Australian growers better pulse varieties faster through a world-leading, cost-efficient breeding program.”

PBA is an unincorporated joint venture between the GRDC, Pulse Australia, the University of Adelaide, the SA Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPIV), the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI), the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F) and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA).

Coinciding with the launch was the announcement that PB Seeds Pty Ltd had been awarded a commercial licence which will provide ‘first option’ exclusive rights to a pipeline of lentil varieties developed through PBA until June 2011.

PB Seeds will enter a licence with DPIV and will collaborate with PBA to produce, promote and fast-track the adoption of future elite lentil varieties to help growers maximise their profitability. The licence rights will include two new lentil varieties which are targeted to be available to Australian producers in commercial quantities in 2009: CIP411, a red lentil suited to high-rainfall regions; and CIP415, a broadly adapted high-yielding red lentil.

“Innovative research is a foundation of the Australian grains industry’s growth and sustainability,” Mr Reading said. “The formation of PBA ensures that with regard to pulse breeding, Australia will remain at the cutting edge.”

 

 

 

 

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