The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will invest $3 million in a new five-year soybean breeding program that will be led by the University of Adelaide and aims to deliver new elite soybean varieties to Australian growers.

Since 2012, GRDC has invested over $5 million in soybean breeding that has developed new varieties and advanced breeding material.

Worth $6 million in total, the new breeding program will accelerate the delivery of new varieties to growers by ‘speed breeding’ using new technology to improve germplasm evaluation and other key breeding processes.

GRDC genetic technologies, biosecurity and regulation general manager Juan Juttner says GRDC and the University of Adelaide had joined forces in a quest to deliver higher yielding soybean varieties suitable for a broader range of growing environments.

“The important new, national soybean breeding program will build on previous investments GRDC has made in this area that have delivered significant gains for Australia’s soybean growers,” Dr Juttner says.

A field trial in the University of Adelaide, screening soybean germplasm for maturity fit for the South Australian environment. Photo: Anh Pham, The University of Adelaide

“This program will focus on delivering improved varieties for the existing soybean growing regions in Queensland and New South Wales and work towards expansion for new regions such as Central Queensland and Southern Australia.”

GRDC oilseeds and genetic technologies manager Allison Pearson says the investment would evaluate breeding material with the goal of improving yield potential and ensuring that new varieties meet the quality parameters of domestic and international end users.

Australian soybean production is around 40,000 tonnes per year. Its expansion has been limited due to inconsistent and unreliable production, exacerbated by environmental factors, crop price and variety choice.

A preliminary trial to evaluate germplasm and current varieties for maturity fit and yield potential conducted by the University of Adelaide at Virginia, South Australia in 2024. Photo: Anh Pham, The University of Adelaide

Within 10 years, Soy Australia wants to increase annual production to 150,000 tonnes per year – equating to $75 million – by improving production in existing areas and expanding soybean into new regions.

The national soybean breeding program will focus on improved varieties for the existing soybean growing regions in Queensland and New South Wales and work towards expansion for new regions such as Central Queensland and South Australia.

“This significant joint investment of approximately $6 million from GRDC and the University of Adelaide will draw on the state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure at the Waite campus,” University of Adelaide Professor Jason Able says.

Dr Anh Pham evaluating soybean maturity in South Australian field trial - Virginia, South Australia, February 2024. Photo: Hue Dang, The University of Adelaide

“Spearheaded by lead breeder, Dr Anh Pham, as well as several scientific experts in product development, business development and commercialisation, we are committed to heralding a new dawn for soybean variety development to meet the needs of Australian growers and industry stakeholders.

“Over the next five years, a combination of approaches will be deployed to develop new varieties, including germplasm evaluation, candidate gene sequencing and association mapping for marker-assisted selection, and speed breeding.

“These techniques will be applied to accelerate the breeding cycle and aid in the selection of superior phenotypes. We recognise that engagement with key stakeholders in the soybean industry is vital, and to that end we will work closely to understand their needs.”

Developing a new range of soybean varieties adapted to different regions will offer growers another nitrogen-fixing option.

Plus, demand for soy products such as soy milk, tofu and plant-based proteins has increased over the past few years.

“This new soybean breeding investment will tap into this growing market and help growers produce more soybean and do so with more reliability and consistency,” Dr Pearson says.

GRDC also invests in soybean agronomy and extension, which has resulted in the Soybean Agronomy Manual.