MOVES are underway to establish an independent assessment body to standardise the evaluation of new wheat varieties across Australia amid concerns the current, open-market system of plant breeding and variety release lacks accountability. The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is looking to form an independent accreditation group to provide growers with objective assessment of new wheat varieties. Traditionally wheat breeding has been a public sector activity in Australia with limitedinvestment from private companies. But, all that has changed in recent years under industry restructuring and a move to greater commercialisation. While public sector programs have been consolidated into three groups, Sunprime Seeds, Australian Grain Technologies and Enterprise Grains Australia, a number of private sector wheat breeding entities have entered the field to compete for market share.
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