$23.5 million boost to barley breeding

Thursday, 19 July 2007

The University of Adelaide has signed the final agreement of a five-year, $23.5 million research program with industry and government to develop new barley varieties, expected to be worth billions of dollars to domestic and export markets.

The latest agreement, worth $5.7 million, has been signed with leading agribusiness ABB Grain. ABB Grain will provide cash and in-kind support for the University's research activities.

"The University of Adelaide is highly regarded for its plant breeding programs, with the research at our Waite Campus recognised as among the best in the world," says the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), Professor Alan Johnson AM.

"This deal ensures that our barley breeding program will remain at the forefront of agricultural research and development in Australia, for the benefit of industry and the community. It will strengthen our already strong links with industry and government."

The University of Adelaide leads the southern node of the nationally coordinated barley breeding venture, Barley Breeding Australia (BBA).

BBA is supported by growers and the Australian Government through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the Department of Agriculture & Food WA, the NSW and Victorian Departments of Primary Industries, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the University of Adelaide. Commercialisation of varieties developed through the southern node of BBA will be conducted by ABB Grain.

"This agreement wouldn't be possible without the support of both industry and government," says Dr Jason Eglinton, Barley Program Leader in the University's School of Agriculture, Food & Wine.

"For example, ABB Grain plays a critical role not only in commercialisation but also evaluating new malting varieties through its wholly owned subsidiary, Joe White Maltings, and conducting export market development. Our links with government at State and Federal levels are also important, with germplasm from departments of primary industry in New South Wales and Victoria contributing to the development of new varieties."

The University's commercialisation arm, Adelaide Research & Innovation, last year named ABB Grain as its commercialisation partner for the barley varieties Flagship and Fleet Australia. This is the first year that commercial volumes of Flagship - which has been specifically developed for the large brewing and malting markets in South East Asia, China and Japan - have been available for general planting by growers.

 

Contact Details

Dr Jason Eglinton
Email: jason.eglinton@adelaide.edu.au
Barley Program Leader
School of Agriculture, Food & Wine
The University of Adelaide
Business: (08) 8313 6553
Mobile: 0429 689 040


Mr David Ellis
Email: david.ellis@adelaide.edu.au
Website: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/
Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Relations
External Relations
The University of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 5414
Mobile: +61 (0)421 612 762