After nine years studying in the soybean heartland of the United States, Dr Anh Pham has accumulated a wealth of knowledge about the world’s most popular pulse and oilseed crop.
Dr Pham’s PhD and Masters studies in the vast soybean growing states of Missouri and Illinois in the United States gave her exposure to some of the world’s leading researchers in the soybean industry and now she is charged with developing new varieties on the other side of the world.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) recently demonstrated its commitment to continued investment in the soybean industry through its partnership with the University of Adelaide, where Dr Pham works as the Lead Soybean Breeder.
The University is a co-funder of, and the breeding partner for, the National Soybean Breeding Program.
According to veteran soybean grower and trader, Soy Australia chairperson, Maryann Salvetti, Dr Pham certainly has her work cut out for her, given Australia’s soybean industry stretches from Far North Queensland to Northern Victoria.
“Soy Australia was very pleased to welcome Dr Pham and her colleague, senior business development manager, Kate McLachlan, to our recent annual general meeting in Toowoomba and there’s no doubt we were all very impressed with her knowledge, enthusiasm and experience” said Ms Salvetti.
“Considering Australian soybean growing regions span the eastern seaboard from Far North Queensland to Northern Victoria, Dr Pham will be breeding for a huge geographic area with very different growing climates between one end of the industry to the other” said Ms Salvetti.
“After meeting Dr Pham and discussing the new breeding program in detail with her and her colleague, Kate McLachlan, it’s very clear to Soy Australia that Dr Pham is the right lady for the job” said Ms Salvetti “and we’re confident her experience in soybean breeding, and her passion for the industry, will deliver great outcomes for Australian soybean growers”.
According to Dr Pham, soybeans are an important legume crop in many farming systems throughout Australia and she is excited to rise to the challenge of breeding varieties suitable for the broad range of different growing regions in Australia.
“This is not like the United States where breeding is typically focused on a relatively narrow geographic area. Soybean breeding in Australia involves vast contrasts between the southernmost growing region of Northern Victoria and the tropical environment of Far North Queensland” said Dr Pham.
“I’m excited to be involved in the challenge of breeding new varieties which suit the Australian climate and can deliver high quality soybeans for the end user.”
“Australian grown soybeans are sought after in Australia and overseas due to being non-genetically modified, high in protein and high quality” said Ms Salvetti.
“Soy Australia is so pleased to be developing a strong working relationship with the new breeding partner to ensure high yielding, high protein and well adapted varieties are being bred in Australia.”
Soy Australia industry development officer, Judy Plath, is a member of a local farming family which grows soybeans every year as part of their farming system due to the soil health benefits that legume break crops offer.
“Currently a popular variety in our region is Hayman, which is well suited to the Bundaberg climate, is suitable for a January planting window and is popular with end users such as tofu manufacturers” said Ms Plath.
“I’m sure local growers would love to see another variety like Hayman coming through the breeding program which has strong disease resistance and excellent yield potential.
“Growers need their soybean crops to be profitable, which is why we want to see new varieties that are well received by our customers and achieve good yields being released by the new breeding program.”
