Recent Developments in Wheat Quality & Classification in Australia By Dr Irfan Hashmi 4 th Annual IAOM-Asia District Conference & Expo Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Oct 8-10, 2013
Background Australia is one of the largest wheat exporter in the world Export market was deregulated in 2008 AWB as a single desk is replaced by 26 exporters
Australian Wheat Exports 2011-12 Malaysia Sudan Yemen Thailand Japan Philippines Vietnam China Korea Indonesia Others 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 % of Bulk exports Total exports: 22.5 mmt Bulk: 89% Source: WEA Bags and containers: 11%
Australian Wheat-Specification Class * Australian Prime Hard Australian Hard Australian Premium White Australian Standard White Bin Grade * APH2 H1 H2 APW1 ASW1 Moisture max 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 Protein min 13 13 11.5 10.5 * Test Weight min 76 76 76 76 76 Screenings max 5 5 5 5 5 Falling # min 350 300 300 300 300 Source: GTA
Wheat Quality Australia Wheat Quality Australia (WQA) is an independent, not-for-profit company relying on the support & involvement of all sectors of the value chain WQA classify new wheat varieties according to market needs by making wheat variety classification categorising varieties according to their processing & end quality relevant, effective & accessible to all involved in the wheat industry Source: www.wheatquality.com.au
Wheat Variety Classification Panel Wheat Quality Australia provides a variety classification service to industry through the Variety Classification Panel Comprising a group of technical experts, the Panel assesses the quality of varieties against the technical requirements of classes Source: www.wheatquality.com.au
Why Classification Necessary The Classification Process aims to deliver grain of consistent physical quality, processing performance & end-product quality to customers & end-users, & thus increases the marketability of Australian wheat Classification has commercial relevance & reflects the value of the grain to the end user Source: www.wheatquality.com.au
Recent Development Wheat Quality Australia recently resolved to consolidate several of the classification zones & remove the default classification scheme for all future classification decisions Source: AWB Source: WQA
Old Classification Zones 1. Queensland 2. Northern New South Wales 3. Central New South Wales 4. Southern New South Wales 5. Victoria 6. South Australia 7. Western Australia Source: WQA
New Classification Zones 1. Northern Zone= QLD, NNSW & CNSW 2. South Eastern Zone= SNSW 3. Sothern Zone= VIC & SA 4. Western Zone= WA Note: Removal of the default classification scheme will mean that for all future classification decisions determination of or changes to the classification of a variety in one zone will not affect its classification in any other zone Source: WQA
High Protein Wheat Quality Hard Wheat (12/13) Season APH H1 State QLD NSW SA WA Port zone Brisbane Newcastle Adelaide Kwinana Test weight (kg/hl) 82.8 81.8 80.8 79.7 Wheat protein (%) 13.6 13.5 13.7 13.3 Moisture (%) 10.1 10.1 10.3 11.0 Ash % (11% mb) 1.27 1.52 1.37 1.25 Falling Number (sec) 432 531 518 445 Screenings, 2mm (%) 2.4 2.9 2.2 2.0 Flour extraction (%) 73.2 73.2 72.4 72.8 Wet gluten (%) 34.4 34.1 36.5 33.6 Water Absorption (%) 62.7 62.7 61.5 60.4 Baking Volume cc 870 800 765 800 Source: GrainCorp
Medium Protein Wheat Quality Medium Wheat (12/13) Season APW1 APW1 APW1 APW2 State QLD NSW SA WA Port zone Brisbane Newcastle Adelaide Kwinana Test weight (kg/hl) 81.8 83.3 82.7 79.8 Wheat protein (%) 10.9 10.8 11.2 11.7 Moisture (%) 10.3 10.0 11.3 10.9 Ash % (11% mb) 1.38 1.43 1.32 1.22 Falling Number (sec) 400 464 487 436 Screenings, 2mm (%) 2.5 2.2 1.6 2.2 Flour extraction (%) 73.5 72.6 72.8 72.0 Wet gluten (%) 28.8 25.8 29.1 29.7 Water Absorption (%) 61.6 61.5 61.6 59.4 Baking Volume cc 770 770 675 680 Source: GrainCorp
APH Traditionally it is grown in the black soils of QLD & NNSW with higher nitrogen content which is not present anywhere else in Australia) Expanded to SNSW (Port Kembla) in 1997
APH vs H1 Grade APH H1 Attributes Minimum protein content of 13.0% Prime hard varieties Excellent milling quality Excellent dough strength & functionality Minimum protein content of 13.0% Hard-grained varieties Superior milling quality Good dough strength & functionality Source: Understanding Australian Wheat Quality
Benefits of Prime Hard Varieties Most wheat varieties grown in north eastern Australia are APH varieties This means that even the lower grades (i.e. AH & APW) have good milling & baking characteristics compared with non APH varieties that are grown elsewhere Some of the major APH varieties are: Baxter, Gregory, Kennedy, Sunco & Sunvale
Conclusion Changes to the varietal classification system will simplify its administration & ensure the technical requirements of a variety meet its classification It is important to understand that the quality attributes & end-product expectations of Australian wheat is also based on its: origin & area where it is grown