Chickpea Breeding Australia

Chickpea Breeding Australia is a National chickpea breeding program, formed through a collaboration between Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the New South Wales government. The $30 million, five year program, Chickpea Breeding Australia (CBA) aims to expand the geographic reach of the chickpea production with the focus on new traits for expansion areas while improving varieties suited to traditional chickpea growing regions. CBA aims to deliver adapted Desi and Kabuli chickpea varieties through best practice breeding and innovative technology that increases the rate of genetic gain and fast tracks delivery to Australian growers which will have a positive impact on their profitability. Direct variety commercialisation is through a select number of regionally based seed partners. CBA is a significant long- term commitment by NSW DPI and GRDC to invest in the development of new chickpea varieties for Australian growers which includes the development of infrastructure and investment in human resources. CBA follows on from the extensive work done by Pulse Breeding Australia which was led by NSW DPI in partnership with GRDC, Queensland's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Agriculture Victoria and the South Australian Research and Development Institute.