A sustainable, productive and profitable grains industry is an integral component of Tasmania’s agricultural sector. TIA’s research, development and extension (RD&E) is helping the Tasmanian grains sector meet challenges relevant to the High Rainfall Zone (HRZ) and similar regions across Australia.
There is significant opportunity to enhance Tasmania’s grains production capacity to meet current and future demand by leveraging the State’s natural advantages and the research capacity within the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture.
Our research strengths include:
- A research farm at Cressy in Tasmania’s Midlands which is the centre of grains and pasture RD&E. The biophysical challenges of the farm are representative of the growth areas for the grains industry.
- Leading research organisation in screening wheat for tolerance to barley yellow dwarf virus.
- Abiotic stress tolerance gene mapping including waterlogging, acid soils and salinity pre-breeding in barley.
- Breeding and evaluation of new cereal and grain legume varieties and breeding lines adapted to the longer-season environments typical of the HRZ.
