Australia to expand lentil acreage with new resilient varieties

Australia plans to significantly expand its lentil acreage through the development of new high-yielding varieties adapted to challenging soil and climate conditions. The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has appointed Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) to lead the National Lentil Breeding Program, using advanced technologies including speed breeding, genotyping, and genetic prediction tools.

The main expansion is expected in Western Australia, where breeders are developing lentil varieties adapted to acidic soils. New breeding lines are also being tested in northern New South Wales for heat and drought tolerance, opening opportunities to expand lentil production into new growing regions.

One of the program’s key technologies is speed breeding, which reduces the development time for new varieties from around ten years to just six months. Breeding efforts are focused on improving yield potential, disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, heat tolerance, and adaptation to changing climate conditions.

A major priority is developing lentil varieties that perform well on acidic soils. The main challenge is not low soil pH itself, but toxic aluminum and manganese, which damage roots and reduce the activity of nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. Researchers are therefore selecting both acid-tolerant lentil genetics and new bacterial strains capable of thriving under these conditions.

Australian breeders combine laboratory screening, DNA marker technology, and field testing to identify promising genotypes more quickly. This approach accelerates the development of acid-tolerant varieties and is expected to support further growth in Australia’s lentil production while strengthening the country’s position in the global lentil market.

Tags: Australia, lentil