Profit based measures to capture, evaluate and prioritise genetic improvement of water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency in sugarcane : final report 2014/302

Abstract

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) contracted AbacusBio Pty Ltd with IDA Economics Pty Ltd to undertake a systems modelling project to estimate the relative economic value of two potential new performance traits of sugarcane - water use efficiency (WUE) and/or nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) - in different regions and production systems in the Australian industry. The need is for a protocol to guide future investment priorities in multi-trait selection for germplasm development. There are increasing concerns in sugar production in respect of two key inputs, water and nitrogen. Both environmental and input cost considerations are relevant. The evaluation and selection of cultivars and other approaches to genetic improvement offer potential means to help manage these issues.