Australia leaders in non-GM biotechnology 20 June 2006
http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=2795
- Research Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Value Added Wheat, Dr Bill Rathmell, says that our researchers are leading the world in developing wheat-breeding technology - without needing to use genetic modification.
"Scientists from the Wheat CRC are using cutting-edge biotechnology to accelerate the rate at which wheat can be improved and selectively modified, without using genetic modification as such," he says.
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NEW 'WAXY WHEAT' FOR HEALTHY EATING
Australian grain growers are growing a new waxy wheat which can be used in a range of bakery products, novel breakfast cereals and health foods.
The waxy wheat is part of an array of new wheat varieties, breeding technologies, grain diagnostics and food processing technologies developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Value Added Wheat (CRC VAW) in collaboration with George Weston Foods.
A recent study by the Allen Consulting Group found these had strong economic promise, in addition to the $1.14 billion in measured benefits which it identified as having flowed from Australia's CRCs.
Research Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Value Added Wheat, Dr Bill Rathmell, says that our researchers are leading the world in developing wheat-breeding technology - without needing to use genetic modification.
"Scientists from the Wheat CRC are using cutting-edge biotechnology to accelerate the rate at which wheat can be improved and selectively modified, without using genetic modification as such," he says.
Dr Rathmell says that the newly developed 'waxy wheat' is now undergoing commercial trials in bakery products.
The new wheat is likely to be used in a range of innovative products aimed at the modern consumer.
"Unlike durum wheat for pasta, which is a different species of wheat, the new 'waxy' wheat is the result of breeding for specific starch properties in conventional wheat," he says.
Dr Rathmell says that breeders and growers have enthusiastically adopted molecular marker technology, which has enabled them to accelerate breeding programs for improved wheat strains without the use of genetically modified plants.
The marker technology was developed by the CRC in a user-friendly form with Australian grain farmers in mind, he says.
"Both wheat and barley breeders have adopted the marker program, meaning they are able to achieve better crops from improved varieties," he says.
"This technology is also world-first for Australia, and many overseas orders have been received."
Dr Rathmell says that Australian grain growers are highly skilled users of leading edge technology, compared with their colleagues in Europe and the USA.
Dr Rathmell says that he has great confidence in the future of grain growing in Australia, even with the growing threat of climate change and dryland salinity.
"At present we have some ten million hectares of wheat, producing twenty million tonnes per year, and we usually export more than three quarters of this," he says. "The CRC is devoted to creating and developing technology which will ensure that the wheat industry remains sustainable in Australia and is able to adapt to the changes which will inevitably occur."
A recent (2005) study by The Allen Consulting Group identified the Wheat CRC's research and commercialisation projects as holding particular promise for future economic benefits for Australia.
The Report noted especially the development of new soft wheat varieties and germplasm; new wheat breeding technologies including a whole-genome, high throughput, low-cost genotyping service; diagnostic tests and instruments, and bakery control technology.
Overall, Australia is $1.14 billion better off, or sixty cents wealthier for every dollar invested by the Federal Government in CRC research, according to the Allen Consulting Group report. This found that real consumption in the economy was up by $763 million, real investment by $417 million and tax revenue by $66m as a result of CRC research.
The work of the CRC for Vaccine Technology supports Australia's National Research Priority No. 2, Promoting and Maintaining Good Health, and Priority 3, Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries.
More information:
Professor Bill Rathmell, CRC for Value Added Wheat, 02 9490 8488, 0412 127 789 Duncan Buckeridge, formerly with The Allen Consulting Group, now with Insight Economics, 03 9909 7545 or 0425784107 Prof. Julian Cribb, CRCA Media, 0418 639 245
More science stories:
http://www.sciencealert.com.au
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