New durum research pays dividends

ONGOING research investment in breeding higher yielding varieties that are better suited to processor and consumer needs is set to pay big dividends for South Australian durum growers.

Varietal development has long been seen as the key to uncapping the export potential of the durum industry, with grower groups and industry bodies investing heavily in research and development.

In 2009 former SA Durum Growers Association president John Green identified varietal improvement as the biggest single issue for durum growers, with ongoing improvements needed in the areas of agronomic performance and yield.

Five years on and current president Mark Hill says the commercial release later this year of a new variety with the potential to boost yields by up to 20 per cent, would be a major step forward for the durum sector.

Theres a new variety about to be released commercially in the 2015 growing season which has been performing exceptionally well as far as yields, screenings reductions and proteins, Mr Hill said.

It wont be a silver bullet but we are hoping for a 10 to 20 per cent yield improvement and a reduction in screenings, as well as maintenance of all of the agronomic and climate traits so that we can deliver into the top durum categories to maximise returns.

Durum varieties are tested nationally by Durum Breeding Australia, with the trials in South Australia conducted by South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) with funding provided by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

According to the GRDC, domestic durum requirements are currently about 300,000 tonnes per year, but marketers would like a consistent supply of 1 million tonnes to tap into export demand, requiring a considerable expansion in area and/or productivity from average national production levels of 500,000t/year.

Mr Hill said varietal improvements would assist in productivity gains, but good agronomic practices were essential for growers to achieve the premiums traditionally up to $60/t higher than bread wheat prices which make the crop financially appealing.

We realise its a bit of a niche crop thats going to a specialist product and thats pasta production, he said.

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New durum research pays dividends