grdc growers' report - Grains Research & Development Corporation

investment highlights
New farm products and services
The new farm products and services
portfolio focuses on inputs for the grains
industry that improve productivity and
profitability. Those with the greatest potential
to deliver benefits to the grains industry are
subjected to careful market evaluation, and
a business case is developed to justify each
potential investment.
Highlights from the portfolio in 2010–11
include:
• A third prototype of the Harrington Weed
Seed Destructor was produced by
CGS Engineering in Western Australia
and tested successfully in the field.
Enhancements included improvements to
the chaff transfer system and a reduction
in the overall weight of the machine by
around 1,000 kilograms. An expression
of interest process was launched to find
a commercial partner.
• A scoping study to test the choice
analysis theory on Australian wheat
markets was undertaken. Key export
partners submitted responses to a
questionnaire designed to determine the
relative value of specific grain quality
and functional traits. A larger project will
be contracted in 2011–12.
• Several PhD scholarships were awarded
in areas including entomology, plant
pathology and agricultural engineering.
These strategic placements are the start
of a concerted attempt to ensure that core
capacity in important research areas is
maintained into the next generation and
that senior researchers are involved in
mentoring new students.
• Formulation and field trials for projects
investigating snail biocontrol and
metarhizium biopesticide began in
2010–11.
What’s in the
RD&E pipeline
for 2011–12
C A S E S T U D Y :
• Development of a viral-based insecticide for the control of
diamondback moth in canola.
• Research into biopesticidal options for the alleviation of crown
rot in cereals.
• Evaluation of potential biological options for the control of
pathogenic nematodes in cereals.
• The design and construction of a pilot plant for the conversion of
liquid waste streams into economically viable fertiliser.
• A choice analysis approach to define end user needs for wheat
functionality.
• Extension of variety identification technology into wheat.
• Evaluation of potential commercial opportunities for wheat with
high lutein content.
Supplying a fish-free alternative for
long-chain omega-3
Tissue-cultured canola plants including omega-3 gene stacks. Photo: CSIRO
An Australian research alliance is leading the international race to break the world’s reliance on fish
stocks for its supply of the vital dietary nutrient long-chain omega-3.
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) long-chain omega-3 fatty acids have
well-documented roles in heart and brain health, child and infant development, reducing inflammation
and other health functions. Fish are the primary source of these fatty acids.
Over the past decade, as awareness of their health benefits has increased, the inclusion of long-chain
omega-3 extracts in diets—as supplements or in processed foods—has grown exponentially. The rate
of growth in consumer demand can no longer be sustainably supplied from wild fish stocks, so the race
is on to find potential new sources which can sustainably satisfy the demand.
The GRDC, CSIRO and Nuseed have joined together to bring pioneering Australian grains research into
the race, through the Long-chain Omega-3 Canola Oil Research Collaboration, announced in April 2011.
The three parties have signed two major agreements to develop and market plant-made, DHA-rich
long-chain omega-3 oils, using world-leading biotechnology. The first agreement is a collaborative
research project to achieve a series of development milestones and complete a broad range of studies.
The second agreement is a global exclusive commercial license to Nuseed for existing and co-developed
long-chain omega-3 intellectual property.
The new collaboration aims to have crop trials completed by 2014 and seed for the new canola
commercially available in 2016.
Fungal endophyte growing among cells of a cereal
grain, viewed at 400 x magnification.
Photo: David Hume
This exciting Australian collaborative project takes a whole-of-chain approach, combining scientific,
research and agricultural expertise with commercial support. The GRDC is pleased to play an important
role in a project that will present growers with an exciting varietal opportunity in both domestic and
international grain markets.
24 GRDC GROWERS’ REPORT 2010–2011