The Australian Grains Genebank (AGG), scheduled for completion in October 2013, is the amalgamation of the Australian Winter Cereals Collection in Tamworth NSW (DPI NSW), the Tropical Grains Germplasm Centre in Biloela QLD (DAFF Q) and the Temperate Field Crops Centre in Horsham, Victoria (VDPI). The formation of a single nationally focused program will improve the strategic management of the grains collections under one project, and one physical seed storage facility. Financial security is provided by the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC), the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (VDPI), and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Queensland (DAFF Q).
The new world class Genebank facility under construction in Horsham is the headquarters of AGG, with a capacity for over 200,000 germplasm accessions. The grains germplasm from the three existing state collections will be transferred into the new facility once it is operational in late 2013.The AGG will operate under world’s best practice as part of a global Genebank system in support of Australia’s obligations as signatory to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources.
The formation of the AGG now provides a one stop shop for Australian and international researchers seeking grains genetic resources from Australia and their associated information. It will improve the efficiency of grains germplasm introduction, quarantine, storage, maintenance, characterisation using agronomic and genomic tools, and information management which will enable more effective utilisation of germplasm for the benefit of the grains industry.