New barley research alliance
The barley industry is set to reap the rewards of a new research alliance between the Department of Agriculture and Food, WA and Murdoch University.
The Western Barley Genetic Alliance will combine DAFWA and Murdoch's complementary expertise and resources to collaborate and co-invest in areas of barley genetics research over the next five years.
DAFWA director-general Rob Delane said the alliance had been created to significantly increase and improve research and development capacity in barley that would deliver ongoing benefits to industry.
"The alliance will enhance barley research and development with delivery of improved genetics for the grains industry, addressing current and future industry identified gaps," he said. "The end result will be research that translates into productivity and profitability at the farm gate faster."
The alliance will underpin a number of key collaborations with national research partners including the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the Australian Export Grain Innovation Centre collaborating universities and other industry participants.
Murdoch deputy vice-chancellor (research and development), Professor David Morrison, said the university would provide funding for up to 10 new PhD scholarships in barley genetics and fund two new postdoctoral fellowships.
"Together, the partners wish to make a substantial contribution to the barley industry and contribute national leadership in areas of barley genetic improvement for the benefit of the Australian grains industry," Professor Morrison said.
The combined strengths of the two institutions will enable the Western Barley Genetic Alliance to be more effective.
Murdoch University brings to the alliance state-of-the-art facilities and international linkages in genomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics together with undergraduate and post-graduate research programs in crop genetics and other aligned research areas.
DAFWA has a proven track record in delivering outputs to the barley industry in areas of barley genetic research including germplasm identification, identifying economically important genetic traits and environmental influences on these traits.
This research enables breeders and geneticists to maximise barley production and processing potential.
DAFWA also has highly developed expertise in barley agronomy and networks that enable the translation of genetic research outputs to productivity and profitability gains.
The Western Barley Genetics Alliance will undertake collaborative research and development, focusing on barley yield and adaptation, quality and reducing risk to growers.
WA is the largest exporter of malting barley.
