IT was a big year for the pulse sector in 2013, with the inaugural Pulse Breeding Australia conference 'Expanding Horizons' attracting more than 150 delegates to its field day and almost 200 to the main conference sessions.
Pulse Australia's chief executive officer Tim Edgecombe said the conference provided an excellent opportunity for people across the industry to gain insights into how plant breeders respond to the production and marketing needs of the pulse supply chain.
One of the key note speakers, Pulse Australia chairman Peter Wilson drew from his long association with the industry to outline the benefits that had come from the establishment of a focused pulse breeding organisation.
"Since the establishment of Pulse Breeding Australia in 2006 and implementation of better agronomic practice there has been a steady increase in the export value of the Australian pulse industry from $304 million in 2006 to more than $1.054 billion in 2012," he said.
"The development of the national and international industry structure has seen positive outcomes for market access, contract execution, quality standards and supply chain support for pulse food and fodder products.
"PBA's focused national breeding program and their commercialisation strategy have been critical to achieve this, hand in hand with the integrated agronomy and supply chain focus of Pulse Australia."
Since 2006, the pulse industry has expanded from 1.4 million hectares to 1.66mha annually and doubled annual production from 1 million tonnes to 2mt.
Pulse Australia senior industry development manager Gordon Cumming said this was the result of superior varieties, improved production management knowledge and skills and strong global demand for Australian pulses.
"Pulses are recognised for their value to the crop rotation and as a profitable option for Australian growers," he said.
WA graingrower Rod Birch has taken up a position on the Pulse Australia board.
He has more than 30 years experience in pulse and grain production, breeding and extension.
Mr Birch's 5200ha Catalina Farms operation is located 280 kilometres north of Perth in the 330-millimetre rainfall zone near Coorow, where he has implemented a well-tested winter cropping rotation of wheat, lupins and canola.
Mr Edgecome said Mr Birch brought with him a broad knowledge of the industry and a passion for industry development.
Mr Birch's strong interest in crop breeding has led him into a directorship with Australian Grain Technologies, Australia's largest wheat breeding company, for the past four years.
Plant science remains a passion that has seen him being involved in growing seed crops in plant breeding programs, growing seed crops to bulk up new varieties and biotechnology studies to investigate the potential benefits and risks of GM cropping.
"The grains industry in WA has huge potential to supply the increasing population in Asia," Mr Birch said.
"I have been inspired by the potential to grow our market in Asia given our environmental and logistical advantages and our marketing and processing capability."
* Full report in Stock Journal, January 9, 2014 issue.
