Driving innovation: Rice Breeding Australia’s milestones in 2025

As Rice Breeding Australia (RBA) wraps up its third season, the organisation is hitting its stride. With a clear focus on delivering impact and building resilience for the Australian rice industry, 2025 has been a year of scale, science and strategic partnerships.

Accelerating genetic gain 
At the start of the 2025 season, RBA set an ambitious goal: to build on the success of the previous year by substantially expanding the scale of its breeding program.

Breeding at scale is a critical driver for improving the rate of genetic gain, and this year marked a major uplift in activity, with a number of new varieties created and evaluated.

Key achievements include:

• New targeted assessment for lodging and disease resistance – For the first time in Australia, rapid screening methods were deployed to ensure potential new varieties are not at risk of lodging or Rice Blast.
• Expanded glasshouse operations – Allowed early generations of potential varieties to progress quickly to field evaluation.
• Largest-ever set of multi-site field trials – extensive evaluations provided valuable data to guide selection decisions and further assessments. The Northern Rivers site was a particular success this year, playing a pivotal role in Rice Blast disease screening after losing this site to flooding in 2024.

Building best-in-science partnerships 
RBA’s established research collaborations continued to strengthen year on year, supporting the delivery of best practice breeding outcomes and optimum rates of genetic gain for Australian rice. Continued progress was made to enhance cold tolerance in Australian rice varieties. This is a critical success factor for transforming water productivity for the industry.

Understanding the genetic controls for cold tolerance 
The University of Queensland (UQ), supported by grower levies through the AgriFutures Rice Program, has discovered several specific locations on the rice genome – called Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) – that are involved in cold tolerance control. These are the key regions on the rice genome that control cold tolerance.

High throughput breeding tools 
Using specific DNA code (markers) located at or very near to these QTL, RBA can determine whether potential varieties carry cold tolerance traits. This can be done very quickly in the laboratory, without having to expose potential varieties to cold temperatures in the field. This allows the team to deliver faster and at much larger scale with a greater probability of success.

In 2025, this DNA marker technology was used to improve cold tolerance at scale for the first time. All potential varieties entering yield evaluation were tested to confirm they carried three of the known cold tolerance QTL, ensuring they are more cold tolerant than current commercial varieties.

For the first time, RBA applied high-throughput screening to preselect varieties carrying three known cold tolerance QTL. The result? Selections averaged 3.25 t/ha higher yields than the previous year.

These results were shared at the Australian Rice Conference in August 2025, signalling a new era for breeding efficiency and productivity and a very exciting prospect for the potential development of cold tolerant, high performing varieties.

Beyond cold tolerance – tackling lodging and exploring gene editing 
Building on this success, RBA introduced DNA marker-based selection for lodging resistance, accelerating progress on this critical trait. Early progress is very encouraging.

A new partnership with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines and Swinburne University is exploring gene editing opportunities including traits like low glycaemic index.

Sharp focus on the next new varieties 
Two standout developments shaped the year:

• Potential Langi replacement – Showing improved grain yield and agronomic performance relative to Langi, this variety is on track for grower review at the 2026 RRAPL Field Day.
• Topaz replacement discontinued – Poor agronomic performance and missing key genes led to its withdrawal, reinforcing RBA’s commitment to rigorous standards. With the vital SCM3 gene missing, the variety’s weak straw strength and poor 4/5 score means it is more likely to lodge.

Investing in research infrastructure and capability
To support scale and modernisation, RBA invested in advanced plant breeding technologies and commenced construction of a world-class research facility near Leeton, NSW. This hub will consolidate operations and house critical glasshouse and nursery infrastructure. This signals a significant step for RBA and the Australian rice industry.

A funding application to Regional Economic Development Community Investment Program (REDCIP) aims to further enhance the site with office and seed processing facilities and realise RBA’s vision for consolidating all rice breeding operations (other than external field sites) at a single location.

Team depth and development  
Two new graduates joined the team, to support growth in the scale of field and glasshouse operations. Team members also completed several development programs this year, including Senior Breeder Chris Proud’s embarking on the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Connecting with industry 
Engagement was front and centre in 2025 to further develop and enhancing communication and engagement with growers, industry and the broader community.

The following key activities were undertaken:

• Engagement of professional communications services
• Launch of new branding and communication materials
• Inaugural RBA Biennial Field Day
• Presentations at the Australian Rice Conference
• Dedicated sessions for agronomists and direct stakeholder briefings

Corporate presence in rural media outlets increased, with press releases announcing infrastructure funding, Field Day outcomes, 2024 results, construction starting on our new facility articles in The Australian Rice Grower magazine and podcast for AgriFutures 100 Years of Rice.

Looking ahead 
RBA’s progress in 2025 underscores its role as a catalyst for innovation in Australian rice breeding. With science-driven strategies, strong partnerships and a clear vision, the organisation is well positioned to deliver varieties that meet the industry’s future needs.

For more updates, visit ricebreedingaustralia.com.au or stay tuned for announcements in the coming season via the AgriFutures Rice Program.