IN the International Year of Pulses (IYP), the Australian Pulse Conference to be held in Tamworth, NSW, on September 12-14 aims to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges of growing and delivering quality Australian pulses.

Day one is research focussed, with keynote speaker internationally respected crop physiologist and agronomist Dr Vincent Vadez, ICRISAT.

NSW DPI chickpea breeder, Kristy Hobson, and senior research scientist, pulse quality, Jenny Wood, in a pulse trial at the Tamworth Agricultural Institute.

Day two is industry focused and will begin with a session on harnessing both public and private research to increase global pulse production.  Professor Bert Vandenberg, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, will be the guest speaker for this session.

An IYP symposium will conclude day two.

AGT Food and Ingredients president and chief executive officer, Murad Al-Katib , is the International Year of Pulses symposium keynote speaker.  The session will examine the IYP themes of market access and stability, functional and nutritional advantages of pulses and innovative pulse products, and using pulses in sustainable farming systems.  A panel of pulse experts will present and facilitate an interactive forum exploring future opportunities for the Australian pulse industry to wrap up the IYP symposium.

Uniquely day three is a field day open to both conference delegates and the local pulse industry, providing an opportunity to examine Australian pulse research as it occurs. An array of pulse research and demonstration trials will be presented including pulse variety demonstrations and disease, agronomy, plant nutrition, plant growth regulator, herbicide tolerance development and farming systems trials.

Pulse research on show

Pulse and cereal grains research conducted at the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Tamworth Agricultural Institute (TAI) will be showcased at the conference.

NSW DPI TAI director, Guy McMullen, said delegates, industry representatives and growers would have the opportunity to participate in a field day at DPI’s Tamworth Agricultural Institute and Liverpool Plains Field Station.

Visitors will see DPI and GRDC research and demonstration trials covering pulse disease, chickpea agronomy and faba bean herbicide tolerance.

The Tamworth durum breeding program has been ongoing since the 1930s and is responsible for developing varieties that have been the foundation of the durum industry in NSW and South Australia.

In addition to the Australian Pulse Conference on September 12-14, Tamworth will also host the 66^th Australasian Grain Science Association (AGSA) Conference on September 14-16.

For more details on the Australian Pulse Conference:  www.destinationtamworth.com.au/pulseconference

For more details on the Australasian Grain Science Conference: www.ausgrainscience.org.au or email [email protected]