Wheat breeding
progress
In an
endeavour to improve wheat quality and maximise the value of
Australian wheat and returns for growers,
The Grains Research &
Development Corporation (GRDC) is developing stronger ties with the
Australian Wheat Board
(International).
By
combining the AWB National Pool Wheat Breeding Forum and the
GRDC Wheat Quality Research Forum, wheat breeders and grain
quality researchers recently identified the most important
issues impacting Australian wheat and its production.
GRDC Manager Germplasm
Enhancement, Richard Brettell said: “The GRDC invests
heavily in wheat quality research to complement increasing
production, which reached an estimated record 24.9 million
tonnes in 2004-05.”
Pulse breeding
progress
A
GRDC-supported program to give Australia internationally
competitive pulse breeding capabilities and meet the
regional needs of growers, marketers and buyers, continues
to make good progress.
GRDC
Manager Pulse/Oilseed Breeding, Brondwen MacLean said
negotiations regarding the National Pulse Breeding Program
(NPBP) continue to progress satisfactorily.
“A recent
meeting, chaired by the GRDC, formalised the NPBP and
involved representatives from all key participants in the
proposed breeding programs,” she said.
“The
meeting focused on the role of the proposed governing board,
NPBP’s structure, budgets for individual breeding programs
and agreement on the program’s next steps, including an
agreed timetable.”
