Australian Pastures Genebank
SARDI manages the Australian Pastures Genebank (APG) – the first national pasture and forage genetic resource centre.
The APG is located at Adelaide’s Waite campus research precinct. It is custodian of more than 70,000 accessions of:
- tropical and temperate pasture
- forage genetic resources.
The APG mandate includes all pasture and forage species of current, or potential value, to Australian agriculture. It controls plants intended to be grown for:
- livestock
- crop rotation
- the environment.
Search the APG online collection, and request seed samples.
Tour of the APG
Video courtesy of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Objectives
The APG will acquire, document, conserve, maintain and distribute plant genetic material. This involves mandate pasture and forage species, in the form of seed and associated data.
We make small quantities of mandated germplasm and related information available, both nationally and internationally. These benefit food and agricultural:
- scientific research
- plant breeding
- genetic resource conservation or education.
The APG conserves the diversity of Australia’s pasture and forage species, as the basis for enhanced agricultural productivity and environmental preservation.
Undertakings
The APG has national and international responsibilities to operate within:
- the framework of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- the rules and standards of the Multilateral System.
Accordingly, seeds and associated data will be provided:
- under a Standard Materials Transfer Agreement
- in accordance with the APG Seed Distribution Policy ().
The APG must also:
- establish and maximise mandated germplasm collections to meet foreseeable national breeding requirements
- support the introduction, quarantine and biosecurity of mandated germplasm
- build relationships with scientists to coordinate germplasm introduction and regeneration programs
- keep interested scientists informed of new accessions to the collection
- manage and administer mandated germplasm, per the international Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- ensure material is duplicated off-site as a safety deposit
- provide online access to public information of mandated germplasm.
Stakeholders
Stakeholders
The establishment and operation of the APG is supported by:
- The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
- Meat and Livestock Australia
- Australian Wool Innovation
- Grains Research and Development Corporation
- Dairy Australia
- AgriFutures Australia
- Department of Primary Industries New South Wales
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Tasmania
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Victoria
- Department of Primary Industries Development Western Australia
- Seed Services Australia
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Resources
The AW Howard Memorial Trust promotes and supports pasture research.
Contact
Dr Alan Humphries – Curator
Australian Pastures Genebank
Phone: 0427 090 959
Email: alan.humphries@sa.gov.au
For help with the GRIN Global online catalogue, or choosing the right material, email: pirsa.apg@sa.gov.au
Please specify what you are seeking, and the purpose of your request.