Grains Research and Development Corporation: The Crop Doctor

Many Western Australian barley growers, when learning Barley Breeding Australia (BBA) officially started on July 1, may question the merit of changing a system that has produced some good varieties, and that at best, life will go on the same.

But there are big expectations that BBA, the name for a new national barley breeding program, will provide growers better varieties with market demand.

As part of the change, six state barley breeding programs will be replaced by three regionally managed nodes focusing on breeding barley based on market demand and agronomics, such as rainfall and soil types.

In other words, the Western Australia based western node could be breeding barleys for acid to neutral soils regardless of which state they are ultimately planted. Similarly, the south eastern node, based in South Australia, could be breeding for alkaline to neutral soils found in Western Australia.

Australia's 8 million tonne barley industry needs to significantly increase production, lifting average yields from 2.1 t/ha to 2.6 t/ha and expanding the growing area from 3.8 million hectares to above 5Mha to satisfy demand projected in 2020.

To ensure it gets the market end of the barley breeding equation right BBA will consult with peak industry body Barley Australia, which includes maltsters, marketers and bulk handlers.

A whole of industry approach to barley breeding will not only bring in national expertise but also ensure WA's export customers receive the barley they want and, in turn, enable their customers to provide a consistent product.

The Department of Agriculture and Food will manage the western node, University of Adelaide the south eastern and Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries the northern.

These agencies will also be represented on the BBA advisory board along with the Grains Research and Development Corporation and New South Wales and Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

The final outcome of BBA should be better targeted barley breeding to ensure Australia's barleys are preferentially demanded by markets, which is what it is all about.

While life may go on the same, this system will make a good one even better.

Further Information: Leecia Angus, Tel 02 6272 5525

The Crop Doctor is GRDC Managing Director, Peter Reading

August 3, 2006
Related GRDC media release

New era for barley breeding

New Australian barley breeding technologies will lead to better barley varieties, faster, with several years cut from the traditional cycle of 10-12 years from first cross to commercial release.

Barley Breeding Australia (BBA) has consolidated the previous state-based programs into a single nationally coordinated crop improvement system, with key breeding targets based on agronomic and marketing requirements. 

This development will also see a more open exchange of ideas and breeding lines.

David Poulsen, who managed the establishment of the northern node of BBA in Queensland and northern New South Wales, said there was a strong focus on feed barley in the region.

“While yield and disease resistance are our most important targets, our efforts are also trained on raising the profile of barley with grain-fed livestock industries by looking for qualities that improve the efficiency of feed conversion,” Dr Poulsen said.

“There’s always been a strong relationship between barley breeders, growers and end users such as breweries, piggeries and feedlots. That won’t change.”

BBA brings together state departments of agriculture, universities and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F) leads the northern node.

“BBA will formalise the cooperation that’s already been happening to some extent amongst barley breeding programs across the country,” Dr Poulsen said.

“This will allow us to gain information sooner about material being developed within other regions and its potential as a northern barley crop.  New lines from the other breeding nodes will be getting into our field trialling system much more quickly.

“By taking advantage of the efficiencies to be gained from greater synergy between the breeding groups, we could end up years ahead of where we would be otherwise.”

Contact: David Poulsen
Barley Breeding Australia
07 4660-3612; 0428 536 579