GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart said the selection followed a rigorous process designed to secure the strongest possible future for Australian chickpea breeding.

“GRDC led an arms‑length competitive tender process to select the best plant breeder to build on the significant work that was previously undertaken by NSW DPIRD.”

“We are very pleased to announce that AGT has been selected as our national chickpea breeding partner.”

The appointment strengthens AGT’s role in Australian crop improvement and reflects its established capability to deliver commercially relevant genetics that support profitable and sustainable grain‑growing systems.

Chickpeas are a critical crop for northern New South Wales and Queensland, while pulses more broadly are playing an increasingly important role across southern Australia and Western Australia. Ongoing expansion has been driven by strong market demand alongside the agronomic and sustainability benefits pulses bring to farming systems, particularly through biological nitrogen fixation.

Mr Hart said the transition to a private sector delivery model would underpin long‑term investment in chickpea improvement.

“This transfer to the private sector will ensure ongoing breeding investment into an important Australian crop,” he said.

“We are excited to see the improvements that AGT can bring to chickpeas as they apply their cutting‑edge and world‑leading plant breeding capacity.”

AGT is the leading provider of elite wheat, durum and lupin genetics in Australia and has established successful breeding programs in barley and canola. More than 30 per cent of Australia’s field crop hectares are now sown each year to AGT‑bred varieties. This capability will now be leveraged to deliver sustained genetic gain in chickpeas.

AGT Chief Executive Officer and Head of Breeding Dr Haydn Kuchel said AGT’s scale, breeding platform and national footprint underpinned the successful tender outcome.

“As Australia’s largest wheat breeder, and through our leadership in durum and lupin, we have built a world‑class breeding platform that we are now applying to chickpeas,” Dr Kuchel said.

“Our focus is on ensuring continuity through the transition and converting existing germplasm into improved, grower‑ready varieties as quickly as possible so growers can see benefits flow through in coming years.”

The chickpea breeding program will be headquartered at AGT’s Northern Crop Breeding Centre at Narrabri, supported by breeding and evaluation activities at AGT’s Western Crop Breeding Centre in Northam, Western Australia, with a focus on improving adaptation for WA growers.

AGT Pulse Coordinator Dr Adam Norman said the integrated national footprint positions the program to deliver broad grower benefits.

“Narrabri gives us a strong base in the core production region, while our western program allows us to focus on improving chickpea performance and reliability in WA environments”.

GRDC senior manager oilseeds and pulses Dr Francis Ogbonnaya said expanding chickpea adaptation remained a key objective for GRDC and industry.

“We want to see chickpea adaptation widened so that the benefits of this high‑value legume can be experienced by more Australian growers,” he said.

The program will build on chickpea germplasm developed over the past five decades by NSW DPIRD, with financial support from grain growers through GRDC. AGT acknowledges the contribution of the previous custodians and will work closely with stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition into 2026.