Leading experts in canola breeding and remote sensing technology will feature as keynote speakers at the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Grains Research Update being held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from February 16-17.

GRDC Southern Regional Panel chairman Ian MacKinnon said farm advisers, scientists, agronomists and growers attending the update would learn about Canada's experience with oilseed breeding for new markets.

"This topic will be presented by Dr Van Ripley, a research scientist in oilseed breeding with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Saskatoon Research Centre," Mr MacKinnon said.

"Dr Ripley was responsible for the development of Canadian Liberty Link transgenic oilseed varieties, and will talk about his country's experience in growing, breeding and marketing canola for new and emerging markets as well as the impact of GM oilseed varieties on Canadian production, markets and farmer profitability."

Mr MacKinnon said day two of the update would feature a presentation by Bernard Coquil, head of France's FARMSTAR EADS Astrium project, on remote sensing technology as a new tool for grains advisers.

"Remote and real-time sensing technology has only recently been introduced to Australia and is being trialled in several areas along the grain belt, as well as in other industries," he said.

"Mr Coquil's will speak about adapting the European system to southern Australia and linking satellite imaging to climate forecasting.

"The update will also feature French organic farmer and marketer Pierre de Contes talking about what is driving the expansion of the organic broadacre cropping market in Europe, as well as the market potential in Australia. This raises an important question for the Australian grains industry: is it time for us to take organic broadacre cropping seriously; and are we being left behind in both the technology and potential markets?"

The Adelaide GRDC Grains Research Update will also focus on agronomy in higher and lower rainfall regions for 2005 and 2006, updates on diseases such as rhizoctonia, crown rot and stripe rust, the most topical crop disease at the moment.

"Stripe rust has had a big impact on wheat production across southern Australia in the past 2-3 years," Mr MacKinnon said. "Experts will speak about wheat varieties and agronomy for the coming season, including management factors such as seed dressing."

The Adelaide GRDC Grains Research Update will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from February 16-17. Registration begins at 8.30am on February 16, with sessions the following day from 9am.