Australia is the world’s largest exporter of faba beans, supplying around one-third of global trade, with key markets including Egypt, the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia.
The 2.5 year, $9.5 million (total value) program is a co-investment of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), InterGrain and Adelaide University and will be led by InterGrain.
GRDC manager genetic technologies, Camilla Hill, says the program marks a significant step forward for the Australian faba bean industry and builds on more than a decade of investment in faba bean breeding.
“The new national faba bean breeding program brings together world-class expertise and a refreshed delivery model to accelerate the development of faba bean varieties that will meet grower needs into the future,” Camille says.
“Its focus is on improving yield, disease resistance, adaptation and quality traits, so growers have access to faba bean varieties that perform reliably across existing production regions and as the crop continues to expand into new areas,” she says.
Camilla adds the program followed GRDC’s previous investment in faba bean breeding through Pulse Breeding Australia, University of Sydney and Adelaide University, which since 2011 had underpinned steady improvements in variety performance and market suitability.
“This investment builds on a solid history of GRDC investment in faba beans and reflects confidence in the crop’s long-term role within Australian farming systems,” she says.
“The renewed approach allows us to target specific regional and market requirements more effectively, while ensuring breeding outcomes translate quickly into on-farm benefits for growers.
“One aspect of the project will focus on delivery of the breeding program and associated intellectual property, while the second aspect will address variety release and commercialisation.”
Camilla says the program had a clear ambition to strengthen the profitability and sustainability of faba bean production, with long-term targets focused on lifting production, supporting export growth and meeting rising domestic demand for plant-based protein.
“We see strong opportunities for faba beans to play an even greater role in Australian crop rotations, delivering both financial and soil health benefits while supporting diversification at a whole-of-farm level.”
InterGrain chief executive Tresslyn Walmsley agrees, saying “this renewed national breeding effort is about giving growers more choice and confidence – delivering higher yielding faba bean varieties with stronger disease resistance and quality traits”.
“With InterGrain’s national breeding platform and deep connections across Australia’s growing regions, we’re well placed to ensure these improvements are developed, tested and delivered where growers need them most,” Tresslyn says.
Adelaide University Dean of School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Professor Jason Able, says “this is an exciting era for new and existing Australian faba bean growers”.
“With the rich history and continued legacy of plant breeding education, research and variety development at Adelaide University’s Waite campus, combined with InterGrain’s proven variety success across several commodities, the faba bean varieties of tomorrow developed through this partnership will value-add significantly across the industry,” Jason says.
“For an industry worth more than $300 million in Australian exports annually, this partnership will further contribute to the profitability of Australian growers already growing faba and provide new opportunities for those growers yet to evaluate faba as part of their rotation,” he says.
Faba beans are an increasingly important crop for Australian growers, offering a valuable rotation option alongside cereals through nitrogen fixation, improved soil health and weed and disease break benefits.
As a cool-season legume, faba beans also provide growers with flexibility in challenging seasons and access to premium markets.
Australian faba bean production has expanded significantly over the past decade, underpinned by strong export demand and growing interest from the domestic food and feed sectors.
The new faba bean breeding program is designed to support this growth by delivering varieties with improved yield potential, disease resistance and seed quality, while ensuring adaptation across Victoria, South Australia, northern NSW, southern Queensland and Western Australia, where interest in expanding production is increasing.
By aligning breeding investment with clear market signals and regional production needs, GRDC and its partners aim to secure the long-term resilience of the Australian faba bean industry and maximise returns for growers.
