More than 150 of Australia’s leading field crop breeders, researchers and industry representatives were in Melbourne at the start of March for the third annual ACB Breeders Week series of meetings and workshops.

Australian Crop Breeders chief executive Dr Narelle Moore says the program was designed to create opportunity for collaboration across all parts of the national breeding community.

“Breeders Week encompasses presentations and discussions on topics including field crop research, pathology and variety assessment that previously were held on separate schedules,” Narelle says. 

“It involves Australia’s leading researchers and scientists who are dedicated to maximising the return field crop varieties deliver to Australian farmers,” she says.

“In 2023, we took the opportunity to bring all these meetings together into a single event, allowing for greater collaboration and collective learning.”

ACB represents public and private organisations that breed new varieties of wheat, barley, canola, pulses, oats and other grains for Australian farmers.

“We need to take every opportunity to ensure we are leading the world in how we approach crop breeding as we continue to deliver high performing varieties for Australian growers,” she adds.

“We also took the opportunity to provide ACB members with additional information on emerging technologies that are becoming available to the industry.

“Some of these helps improve the way plants and grain can be analysed quickly and objectively using artificial intelligence.

“The rate of technological change and the benefits this can have for the Australian grains sector is significant, so it’s important we take opportunities to explore and understand what’s possible.”