Issue No 7, January 1997.

NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the Advice on Publications Available.

First Australian New Crops Conference

1. Grain Legumes Workshop

First priority: choose among the diverse range of grain legume crop species available, to identify those warranting attention.

Second priority: reduce the production risks associated with grain legume crops.

Third priority (equivalent): develop suitable varieties; overcome problems with the adoption of new crops; develop a blue-print for launching a new crop with market emphasis; obtain funding for research and development work.

Other needs (in no particular ranking):

identify grain legumes for specific areas
obtain funding for new crop commercialisation
obtain access to results from completed work
increase awareness of current work
establish a database for past and current grain legume research and development
assess the long-term potential of a new crop accurately
identify a true winter grain legume crop
maintain consistency in the quality of grain legume product
achieve consistent performance from grain legumes under a range of conditions
research easy insertion of new crops into current crop rotations
develop "best practice" agronomic advice packages for grain legumes
improve marketing intelligence
establish initial market contacts
develop supporting infrastructure and competitive pricing systems
develop markets and establish long-term commitments
expand present breeding development to the wider acceptability of the new crop and its products
introduce integrated pest management with a market orientation for new grain legume crops
adopt a multi-disciplinary approach and holistic thinking
register chemicals for new grain legume crops
provide education about the widely diverse group of grain legume crops
improve harvestability in all crops
prioritise funding and support for grain legumes
develop a "business plan" to evaluate the potential for each new crop
investigate the variability in nitrogen fixation
maintain quality of the product and continuity of supply
investigate value-adding prior to marketing
distribute knowledge about nutritional value of products
identify uses or markets for second-grade product
coordinate marketing efforts
coordinate pulse industries
establish industry infrastructure

In grain legumes, generic problems were considered to be different between emerging crops, with limited commercial production but with an identified market, such as azuki, gram and Koala lablab; and new crops, with no current commercial producti on, such as specialty soybeans, lima and yellow lupins.

For emerging grain legume crops, the main need was seen to be: development of their market potential, taking into account the identification of those markets to be targeted, the investigation of alternatives available, the prospects for value-ad ding for the product, the feedback received from any market evaluation carried out and communication with the consumer.

For new grain legume crops, the main need was seen to be: identification of their market potential, including determination of the size of the market over time, the specification of the product(s) in terms of quality and quantity, the potential of the system, the likely dollar returns and any competitive advantages liking to be procurable. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis was recommended.

Stakeholders were identified as the agribusiness community, researchers, farmers, funding bodies, processors and government/trade bodies.

Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter

Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email: r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au

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originally created by: GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF