Access Genetics, jointly owned by the Nugrain consortium and founder Donald Coles, has reached out across the world, to form fresh partnerships with two of the most respected breeders from Europe and the USA.

As a result, Australian grain growers can expect unique access to superior germplasm from overseas programs, and far less time for new varieties to reach the market than traditional breeding programs.

The breeders, Svalof Weibull and World Wide Wheat Inc. are recognized as leaders in their fields.

Managing Director, Donald Coles explains the benefits for local grain growers in terms of access to better varieties in less time from the breeding program’s first crosses to commercial release.

“Our partnerships are proving to be highly productive in terms of the rate of development of new varieties, which are showing them selves to be very competitive in a number of grain growing regions.

“These arrangements provide Australian growers with access to the rapid advances made in Europe and the US as a result of the huge investment in cereal development in North America and Europe.

“With 6,000 lines of wheat already available to us and more than 3,000 being generated annually we are confident that our breeding program will be amongst the best in the world,” said Mr. Coles.

Final assessment and release

According to Mr. Coles, several candidate wheat varieties from Access Genetics are undergoing final assessment this year.

“We are in the final stages classification with AWB for the first variety which we will release in 2005,” he said.

“We see classification as one of the final hurdles to release and we approach this significant step with great confidence in our candidate varieties.”

Mr. Coles said that the Access Genetics also expected a number of field days in the coming spring season to demonstrate the attributes of the new varieties.

 “And we expect to demonstrate the attributes of our varieties to grain growers in the most practical way possible – in comparison trials on a field scale before they buy.”

Durum potential

“Results from trials with the base northern hemisphere breeding material in Australia over the past three years have demonstrated the potential for significant improvement in crop yield over current leading varieties.

“Importantly, these varieties appear to exhibit competitive quality and disease resistance.

“But perhaps the most immediate benefits from Access Genetics’ move into the international breeding world will come in the Durum wheat sector, he said.

“Our breeding partner World Wide Wheat is a world leader in Durum breeding.

“Our new durum wheat varieties offer significantly higher quality and are amongst the best quality in the world as well as being adapted to local conditions.