Rice Breeding Australia

Rice Breeding Australia Ltd (RBA) is an Australian not-for-profit company established in June 2022 to deliver a dedicated, nationally coordinated rice breeding program for the Australian rice industry. It was created to consolidate and modernise rice breeding activities under a single entity with clear industry governance and long-term strategic direction.

RBA operates as a joint initiative between AgriFutures Australia, SunRice Group, and the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia, reflecting collaboration among research funding bodies, commercial processors, and rice growers. The organisation is governed by an independent board with industry representation and is responsible for setting breeding priorities aligned with national rice industry needs.

Headquartered in Leeton, New South Wales, in the Riverina region where the majority of Australia’s rice is grown, RBA undertakes plant breeding through a combination of glasshouse programs, breeding nurseries, and field trials. Its work spans multiple rice market segments and quality classes relevant to domestic and export markets.

The breeding program focuses on improving agronomic and production traits, including water productivity, cold tolerance, lodging resistance, yield stability and grain quality, with the aim of increasing farm-level resilience and consistency under variable climate and water availability. RBA applies contemporary breeding methods, including accelerated generation turnover and molecular tools, to increase the rate of genetic improvement.

Rice varieties developed by RBA are progressed through commercial pathways for seed multiplication and release to Australian growers. Through its role within the broader AgriFutures Australia rice research, development and extension framework, RBA contributes to the long-term productivity and sustainability of the Australian rice industry.

Find out more at ricebreedingaustralia.com.au