Australia - Soybean Breeding For Australia 2023-2029

Description

The Australian soybean industry is a small industry based on production of non-genetically modified (non-GM) varieties targeted at the both the domestic and international consumer food market. Soybean production in Australia has been highly opportunistic, responding to appropriate weather conditions and price. This is reflected in variable production year to year with annual soybean production ranging from 10,000t to 80,000t, with an annual average production of 30,000 t/year for the 5 years to 2020. In 2021 with improved growing conditions, 42,000 tonnes of soybean were produced with a value of $31.3M to Australian growers (Australianoilseeds.com).   Australia is a net importer of soybeans and soybean products for use in domestic food manufacturing and the consumer market. There are increasing opportunities for soybean domestically as consumption has risen, driven by changing consumer dietary preferences (flexitarian) and rising demand for healthy food and plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy.
The new breeding program will support the Australian soybean industry realise its strategic objective of increasing annual soybean production to 150,000 tonnes per annum over the next 10 years. To achieve this level of annual production, new varieties will need to deliver an average yield in target production regions of 2 tonnes/ha and the number of hectares grown will need to increase to at least 75,000 hectares yearly.
GRDC has supported the Australian Soybean industry through RD&E investment for an extended period, including as a co-investor in the Australian National Soybean Breeding Program (ANSBP). The partners of the ANSBP are not continuing investment in the ANSBP and GRDC is seeking new partners that will achieve the targets for soybean production in Australia.
GRDC is seeking applications from new partners for co-investment in the delivery of improved soybean varieties.  The proposed investment will address the opportunity for higher yielding varieties in current soybean production regions as well as expanding and new regions to develop new varieties that meet the growing requirements for that region through improvements in traits such as phenology (growing season, flowering time), disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, and yield.  It will be important that the new program works with end-users prior to the release of new soybean varieties.
Please note the following:
 
1.            Breeding Model
GRDC is open to all models to deliver new, improved soybean varieties including, but not limited to:
•   Evaluation and selection under Australian conditions of lines from other soybean breeding programs, including international programs;
•   A crossing, evaluation and selection breeding program; and
•   Collaborations between research organisations, soybean industry participants (including processors and end-users), commercial or public breeding programs, including international collaborators.
2.         Collaboration:
All collaborations should designate a lead organisation as per the RFT terms and conditions.
3.         Co-investment
Co-investment from Tenderers to deliver improved soybean varieties is highly valued. Please see the budget template in the Grains Investment Portal for definitions of cash and in-kind contribution.
4.         Availability of germplasm from the former Australian National Soybean Breeding Program (ANSBP):
The ANSBP co-owners have agreed in principle to make the ANSBP germplasm and asscoiated data avaiable to GRDC for the purpose of future soybean breeding. Data related to this germplasm would be available to Tenderers from 30th October to 10th November 2023 pursuant to the terms of a confidentiality agreement with GRDC. Requests for access to this information must be issued in writing during this time period to the ‘Document Contact and Enquiries’ email address, and access will only be granted once the Tenderer has signed a confidentiality agreement provided by GRDC.  Requests received outside of the stated period will not be considered.
The ANSBP germplasm being offered will not be made available for any commercial use outside of this GRDC investment.
Please note that there is no expectation for Tenderers to use the current ANSBP germplasm and associated data, however if a Tenderer does wish to use the germplasm and reflects this in their Tender, GRDC expects a commitment that, if successful, the Tenderer will take possession of the germplasm and it will be planted in the field or glasshouse during the current 2023/24 season. 
If the successful Tenderer proposes to use the ANSBP germplasm, it will be transferred pursuant to a GRDC material transfer agreement (MTA) for the purpose of seed increase and evaluation concurrent to negotiation of the Research Contract.  
 
Tenderers will need to check the RFT website regularly during the open-tender period for any addenda to the RFT.

Opportunity closing date

05 December 2023

Value of contract

to be confirmed