Local and overseas industry leaders have gathered in Perth to celebrate Australia's first specialty wheat market at the 30th anniversary of the Australian Noodle Wheat (ANW) segregation.
Western Australia produces nearly all premium Australian Noodle Wheat, totalling about 850,000 tonnes per annum. About 60 per cent of this is exported to Japan for white salted udon noodles, providing more than $250 million to the State economy every year.
The next biggest market is South Korea, which imports about 30 per cent of WA's ANW.
The segregated wheat fetches $20 to $100 per tonne and remains a rare phenomenon in the industry, where most wheat is exported as a bulk commodity.
The McGowan Government continues to support noodle wheat development in WA through investment in InterGrain, which alongside the Grains Research and Development Corporation, is producing new noodle wheat varieties that meet the Japan's strict quality requirements.
The State Government also co-funds the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC), which works closely with the Japanese flour milling industry and government officials to ensure this highly-valued market continues to thrive.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Noodle wheat segregation is a great WA success story - government scientists like Jack Toms and Graham Crosbie identified and pursued a unique opportunity for our State to supply a niche product to a highly discerning, premium market.
"The State has a long-standing relationship with Japanese flour millers and government officials, who visit AEGIC each year to ensure WA noodle wheat blends achieve the right colour and texture for udon noodles.
"We applaud everyone who has been involved in the evolution of the Australian Noodle Wheat segregation, who have made a lasting contribution to the Australian wheat industry.
"DPIRD's world-leading grains research program continues to grow WA's status as the nation's largest wheat exporter, worth $2.2 billion to the State economy."
