PROC-9177213: Developing opportunities for soft wheat production in the Southern and Western GRDC Regions.

Description

Historically Western Australia & South Australia produced soft wheat from the 1930s until the early 2000’s when production phased out. Several factors influenced growers to move away from soft wheat including high screenings associated with club-head varieties, highly variable pricing, greater flexibility of non club-head varieties (yield, protein and lower screenings) and a reduction in domestic demand partly influenced by the consolidation of local manufacturing to the eastern states. Export market opportunities at the time were limited, with international demand insufficient to buffer reduced domestic demand.An opportunity exists for growers in Western Australia & South Australia currently suited to the production of low protein wheat to generate higher returns through the development of new export soft wheat markets. Recent market research has confirmed increasing demand for soft wheat from Asian flour millers with demand expected to reach 3.6mmt by 2030 in South East Asis (SEA) alone.This procurement seeks to achieve the following:1) Complete a desktop analysis to determine suitable growing areas, varieties and agronomic packages for soft wheat production in Western Australian and South Australia.2) Over 3 growing seasons starting 2026, following the desktop analysis, the applicant will conduct 5 field trials (minimum of 2 in Western Australia and 2 in South Australia) per annum in identified sub-regions for each of three years.3) Derived from the desktop analysis and demonstration site data, develop extension activities addressing farming systems fit for new or established soft wheat varieties, agronomy and financial analysis to support grower adoption.There will be co-dependant milestones between this procurement and a GRDC investment in market engagement and grower value proposition for new, higher-value soft wheat export market alternatives to low protein hard wheat. GRDC will form a working group including the successful applicant and a Grains Australia Limited representative.