Biosecurity Preparedness for Wheat Blast – Identifying New Genetic Solutions and Bolstering Australian Expertise
Tender ID: 590998
Tender Details
Tender Description
Enquiry deadline:
Wednesday 08 October 2025, at 05:00 PM (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Summary
Wheat blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae pathoype Triticum (MoT), can devastate wheat crop yields by up to 100% under favourable disease conditions. Currently exotic to Australia, it poses a significant biosecurity threat. Climatic modelling indicates that approximately 75% of Australian wheat is grown in climates conducive to the disease, with potential national yield loss impacts averaging 7% by 2040.
Wheat blast management is complex, with the efficiency of chemical control options inconsistent and sometimes ineffective when disease pressure is high. The use of blast-resistant wheat cultivars is the most sustainable and effective strategy. Until recently, the 2NS translocation was the only identified genetic resistance for wheat blast, and only a minority of Australian elite cultivars harboured this and exhibited resistance when screened in Bolivia. Since then, more aggressive MoT strains have emerged overseas which have overcome 2NS resistance. The search for new genetic solutions to wheat blast is underway internationally.
This investment aims to enhance Australian preparedness for wheat blast by identifying new durable genetic solutions through collaboration with international specialists. A postdoctoral scientist will work with global experts to discover new sources of resistance and develop genetic selection tools, which will be disseminated to Australian researchers and breeders. Although primarily affiliated with an Australian organisation, the postdoctoral researcher will undertake a portion of their work overseas in partnership with international collaborators. Additionally, the investment will support a proportion of full-time equivalent (FTE) of the principal supervisor, who will be based within the Australian organisation.
Offer period
Offers will remain open for acceptance by the GRDC for a period of 6 months after the Closing Time.
Document contact and enquiries
Attention: Laura Baugh
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Email: brtenders@grdc.com.au
Make all requests for further information or clarification in relation to this procurement in writing (email) prior to 8 October 2025.
GRDC will publish all requests and responses to requests on the GRDC website under Questions and Answers at the bottom of this webpage.
Consortia response
GRDC will not accept Tenders from Consortia.
Lodgement of Tender
Submit your Tender response electronically through the Grains Investment Portal.
AusTender
https://www.tenders.gov.au/admin/Advert/Show/77e61cb7-80f4-408b-8c3f-3cca363ef5e1
Location
New South Wales : Central West : Far North Coast : Far West : Hunter : Illawarra : Mid North Coast : Murray : New England : Orana : Riverina : Southern Highlands : Sydney
Queensland : Cairns & Far North Queensland : Gladstone : Mackay Whitsunday Region : Mount Isa & North West Region : Rockhampton : South East Queensland : South West & Darling Downs : The Central West : Townsville : Wide Bay Burnett
Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne
South Australia : Adelaide : Eyre & Western : Far North : Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island : Limestone Coast : Murray & Mallee : York & Mid North
Northern Territory : Barkly : Big Rivers : Central Australia : East Arnhem : Greater Darwin : Top End
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania