Following a GRDC-supported collection mission to Morocco, Department of Agriculture pasture genetic resource curator, Richard Snowball said many species with potential for Australia verged on extinction, while many may have been lost.

Despite this, he returned to the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) with 326 accessions, including 56 species and 17 genera.

“The germplasm we gathered is likely to benefit Australia’s pasture industry for years to come, but CLIMA and the GRDC must actively encourage and support sustainable conservation of genetic resources in Morocco.

“The subsequent development of new pasture species that are aerial seeded for easier harvesting and better adapted to hostile soils and short pasture phases will have a major impact on the future sustainability and profitability of WA farming systems,” Mr Snowball said.