New world-class facilities set to benefit rice growers and industry

Rice Breeding Australia Ltd. (RBA), a joint venture between AgriFutures Australia, SunRice Group and the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA), have announced plans to construct state-of-the-art breeding facilities in the Riverina region of NSW.

This investment includes a 528m² Apex Glasshouse and a bird-proof field nursery spanning three hectares. These purpose-built facilities are designed to accelerate genetic gains in rice breeding, providing growers with faster access to new water-efficient rice varieties.

Established in 2022, RBA operates to transform the Australian rice industry. By advancing innovation in rice breeding and deploying cutting-edge technologies, RBA aims to help the industry achieve the AgriFutures Rice Program’s ambitious target of 1.5 tonnes of rice per megalitre of water (t/ML) by 2026.

CEO of RBA, Dr Georgina Pengilley, said the new infrastructure will be a game changer for the Australian rice industry.

“The facilities will double our program’s capacity to breed and test new rice varieties, significantly reducing the time it takes to deliver high-yielding water-efficient varieties to growers,” Dr Pengilley said.

Rice grower and Rice Management Committee representative, Rob Massina, emphasised the importance of this investment for growers.

“A purpose-built facility in our backyard allows us to invest our levies in testing new varieties and innovations,” Mr Massina said.

“The variable climate we experience means we need rice varieties with greater flexibility in their growing season and methods.”

RBA is a key initiative under the AgriFutures Rice Program, which balances research, development and extension priorities to support industry productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia, John Harvey said the Australian rice industry has always been a global leader in water efficiency and needed to continue to demonstrate innovation in this crucial aspect of rice production.

The decision to establish these new facilities in the Riverina highlights the region’s critical role in the future of Australian rice production. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with the location carefully selected to ensure long-term viability and operational efficiency.