Farrer medal awarded to wheat breeder
Wednesday, 4 September 2002
A leading research scientist has encouraged Australia's wheat industry to focus on increasing the speed at which new wheat breeds are developed.
Associate Professor Gil Hollamby, former head of the University of 亚洲色吧's wheat breeding program, says if Australia is to remain a leader in quality wheat production, it must develop new varieties with improved yields in a more timely fashion.
"These new yields need to be adaptable to the stresses of our climate and soils, and be resistant to prevalent diseases, and must also have quality attributes desirable to our overseas customers," Professor Hollamby said.
"To be more reactive to market changes, overcome changes in disease resistance, and increase yields, we need to speed the breeding.
"A range of new scientific discoveries and resulting technologies are becoming available. With changes to the organisational structure of wheat breeding in Australia, there is the opportunity to quickly implement these technologies."
Professor Hollamby outlined the challenges facing wheat breeders when delivering the 2002 Farrer Memorial Oration, "Flours ain't flours: Breeding wheats for discerning markets", at the Unive