17 IREC Farmers' Newsletter No. 198 — Spring 2017 Opportunity for import replacement Australians consume more quinoa than is currently produced here and import over 1000 tonnes of quinoa annually, while only producing around 400 tonnes. Australia therefore relies heavily on imported product. This situation presents an opportunity for Australian growers to replace the imported quinoa with locally produced quinoa. The main factors limiting the development of a quinoa growing industry in Australia include: l growers not being able to access seed that has known growing characteristics and performance suited to their geographical location l growers not having to access seed that has a certified germination rate and is free from weed seeds l  access to facilities to remove saponin (soap-like glucosides) from seed l  clear marketing options for seed produced. The quinoa industry in Australia is in its infancy and scaling up will require time and investment to overcome key barriers along the supply chain, from paddock to plate. Australian investigation of quinoa Interest by prospective growers in the Riverina was shown at a quinoa information day held late in 2016 and at the first quinoa field day held at NSW DPI’s Leeton Field Station in June 2017. The field day highlighted the ability for quinoa to be grown in the Riverina, however this is a preliminary trial and a number of crop management issues still need to be looked at before any recommendations can be made. Quinoa can be grown in Australia as either a summer or winter crop and it is seen as a good fit within existing cropping programs, depending on soil type, rainfall and environment. The experiments carried out by NSW DPI at Leeton Field Station are part of a national project Quinoa as a new crop in Australia co-funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and state departments of primary industry or agriculture. Other experimental sites are in South Australia (Naracoorte), Northern Territory (Katherine and Alice Springs) and Western Australia (Kununurra, Northam and Perth). The field site at Leeton is evaluating sowing density, sowing time and varieties. The density trial is investigating the effects of sowing density with sowing rates of 2 kg/ha, 4 kg/ha and 8 kg/ha. Time of sowing is being investigated for two varieties. There is also a variety trial evaluating 13 different varieties to identify the best performing variety for the Leeton area and on the soil type at the research site, which is a heavy grey self-mulching soil typical of the surrounding area. This soil at Leeton Field Station is very different to the lighter soils that quinoa is normally grown on in its native South America and compared with soils at the other national trial sites. The Leeton trials are very important in the understanding of the growing conditions and challenges to a quinoa crop in south eastern Australia. The development of an agronomy package that will set out the best growing practices along with nutritional needs, irrigation requirements and pest and weed management options needs further investigation with more time and trials. Preliminary trials at Leeton are promising but some aspects of crop management need addressing before recommendations are made. The national trial program will provide understanding of required growing conditions and challenges to quinoa production in Australia.