Tropical Pulses for Queensland

Abstract

Queensland’s tropical/subtropical environment, combined with close proximity to key markets, provides an unprecedented opportunity to increase production and export of tropical pulses such as chickpea and mung bean in an increasingly competitive global market. While Queensland has some natural advantages, increasing tropical pulse production is also fraught with inherent challenges. Increasing climate variability and change are major risk factors as are the increasing incidence of pests/diseases and ABARES recently forecasted that agricultural production in Australia could fall by as much as 19 per cent by 2050. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT)-led $ 4.8 million Queensland Government funded Tropical Pulses for Queensland project is a partnership between QUT and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and aims to address many of these concerns. Key goals of the project are to address risks and challenges associated with growing tropical pulses in Queensland through the development of more productive, profitable and resilient chickpea and mung bean options for growers and industry. This presentation will provide an overview of the Tropical Pulses for Queensland project highlighting the innovative scientific solutions used to improve the productivity and resilience of chickpea and mung bean crops, increase the bioavailability of iron in chickpea seeds, improve the breeding of mung bean and define new opportunities for expanding production of mung bean and chickpea crops in Queensland.