Investment

Mungbean is Australia's highest value grain crop, consistently worth over $1000 per tonne, it provides excellent financial returns and a wealth of systems benefits. A co-investment of the GRDC and the Queensland Government, the National Mungbean Improvement Program (NMIP) continues to develop and release superior varieties that are proven performers in regional yield trials and disease nurseries throughout the Northern Grains Region.

NMIP will continue the delivery of superior yield, reliability, adaptation and protection from disease in a large green shiny bean product as well as a strong focus on grain quality that has maintained premium international markets. In the fifth iteration of the National Mungbean Improvement Program will build on the success of previous investments along with key new areas of endeavour.

New areas of focus will include:

1. the adoption of high throughput objective grain quality assessment,
2. refined disease screening methodologies that are less reliant on seasonal conditions,
3. identification and incorporation of improved reproductive heat tolerance, and
4. utilisation of new genetic selection tools/models that concurrently measure the potential of broadly adapted release lines, lines best suited to regional adaptation and lines with potential to be superior parent candidates.

The National Mungbean Improvement Program remains an efficient and modern breeding enterprise releasing varieties that will support stable production of 100,000 tonnes each year and underpin enduring profitability for growers.