Australia
July 8, 2025

Dr Francis Ogbonnaya, senior manager genetic technologies and former ICARDA breeder. - Photo: GRDC

The modern lentil industry in Australia started in the late 1980s with the introduction of late-flowering, low-yielding forage types as part of a cereal-based rotation.

However, it was the establishment of the Coordinated Improvement Program for Australian Lentils (CIPAL) in 1994 that launched a concerted breeding effort in Australia.

CIPAL was supported by GRDC and worked in partnership with all state agricultural agencies. The breeding program was led by the then Victorian Department of Agriculture at Horsham and focused on key biotic and abiotic stresses, yield and harvestability. Germplasm was sourced from around the world and included landraces and international breeding material.

The first Australian-bred lentils – Nipper and Boomer – were commercial successes.

Partnerships

The Australian lentil industry has been built on a strong foundation of collaboration and cooperation, underpinned and fostered through innovation in research, development and extension (RD&E).

From the beginning, researchers engaged with growers, international organisations, other pulse breeders, agronomists, marketers and the broader industry.

Pulse Breeding Australia was established in 2006 as a partnership between GRDC, state agricultural departments, the University of Adelaide (and later the University of Sydney) and Pulse Australia, the peak representative body.

Collaborative efforts have been instrumental in driving innovation, sharing knowledge and advancing the development of varieties suited to Australian conditions. The Australian lentil industry has grown from $220 million in export value in 2015 to 2016, to $1.42 billion in 2024.

Breeding programs

Now, Australia has two lentil breeding programs. One is the National Lentil Breeding Program, based in Horsham. This publicly funded program is led by Agriculture Victoria.

Also based in Horsham is Grains Innovation Australia, a private company. Both continue to contribute to the industry’s ongoing success.

Strategic focus

The National Lentil Breeding Program aims to develop and implement innovative breeding and selection strategies. This includes analysing and identifying valuable traits using high-throughput genotyping, integrated with advanced data analytics (artificial intelligence and machine learning).

By streamlining processes and focusing resource allocation on traits with the highest potential return on investment, the program's approach will enhance efficiency and effectiveness. This issue highlights the major RD&E developments and the organisations involved.

What’s next?

Researchers have already developed advanced crop growth models, alongside predictive algorithms driving impressive rates of trait discovery and genetic gain (see Lentil breeding on turbocharge), while enhancing herbicide tolerance and improving weed control strategies (see Herbicide-tolerant lentils: Registration and impacts and Trials target spiny emex), and key diseases that limit yield (see Economics of disease control options tested).

Closing the yield gap, underpinned by farm economics, is underway (see Closing the economic yield gap).

These stories highlight that GRDC has sought to create a new basis to lentil’s momentum into the future.

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: July 9, 2025