In Australia a new National Pulse Breeding Programme will unite field pea, chickpea, faba bean and lentil breeding programmes, currently operating across the five states. This will provide an internationally competitive breeding capability for the different pulses that meets the regional needs of Australian pulse growers and the marketing sector.

A committee, comprising the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Pulse Australia and major state-based pulse breeding agencies, that has been meeting to consider the options, wants a national programme for pulse breeding that can achieve efficiencies through greater integration and collaboration at the national level, whilst recognising the need for specific regional and end-user requirements. Such a national programme would also build on pre-breeding, breeding, regional evaluation and market information to maximise the benefits from investment in pulse research by the various partners.

Announcing the national programme, GRDC Managing Director, Peter Reading, said a sustainable future for Australia's 40,000 grain growers and their current A$8 billion per annum industry was closely tied to pulse crops.

"For this reason, it is vital that breeding programmes share germplasm, technologies and intellectual property, so that benefits flow freely across state borders.

"With around A$10 million invested annually in the different pulse breeding programs in WA, SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland, it makes sense to encourage greater sharing of individual resources for the common good, while ensuring a clear focus remains on local objectives being satisfied," he said.

The National Pulse Breeding Programme is expected to be functioning by July, 2005. Further details can be found on the GRDC web site at http://www.grdc.com.au/news/pulse.htm

Source: GRDC media release 17 February 2005.