$10 million boost for barley-growing program

On August 19, the University of Adelaide announced that its barley breeding program would be getting a $10 million boost, to be paid out over the next five years.

This funding is the result of an agreement between the University of Adelaide and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

These two organisations have been working together to create "better and faster" varieties of barley for the last 11 years.

At last count, varieties that began life at the University of Adelaide account for over 50 per cent of the barley grown around the country.

Waite Research Institute Director and Head of the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Professor Mike Wilkinson, said that the University of Adelaide's barley breeding program is "the largest and most successful in Australia".

He added that this agreement between the University of Adelaide and the GRDC will allow them to provide Australia's barley growers with a range of high-performing crops.

Professor Wilkinson explained that the aim of the program was to educate barley growers and agricultural scientists, as well as "achieve step changes in barley variety improvement".

This $10 million investment should go a long way toward helping the University of Adelaide to reach these goals.

GRDC Acting Executive Manager, Commercial Business Group, Dr Andreas Betzner said in an August 23 statement that the number of private investors in this internationally acclaimed barley breeding program has grown over the last few years.

He said that such investments have enabled researchers to create a range of barley varieties that are renowned for their high yields, "favourable quality profiles" and resistance to diseases.

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