How do Australia’s wheat experts ensure Aussie wheat makes top quality noodles, bread and cookies?
The answer is sensory assessment, and it’s a crucial part of ensuring new wheat varieties meet the needs of consumers both in Australia and in Asian markets.
Sensory assessment is not just about taste. Appearance, colour, mouthfeel and texture are all extremely important to consumers – especially in Asia, a region which accounts for about 70% of Australian wheat exports each year on average.
Wheat experts from the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) demonstrated the sensory assessment of delicious udon and ramen noodles, Asian style bread, and cakes and cookies at the Perth Royal Show between 21-28 September 2024.
Three times each day, the grain gurus showed the process of making and assessing products for our discerning Asian markets – including taste tests for the public.
Sensory assessment is one of many important functions that AEGIC performs on behalf of Australian grain farmers to help position Australian wheat as the preferred choice in international markets.
“AEGIC provides a vital link between consumers in export markets and the Australian grains industry,” AEGIC Executive General Manager Courtney Draper said.
“AEGIC’s highly trained experts have a deep understanding of what customers around the world want from Australian wheat and other grains.
“Our market insights, technical lab expertise and market education programs help the industry breed, classify, grow and supply grain that markets prefer.”
Exports are a crucial part of the Australia’s wheat industry, with between 65%-80% of the total Australian wheat crop exported each year to countries including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines Korea and many more. Asia accounts for about 70% of these exports.
On average, 28 million metric tonnes (mmt) of wheat is produced in Australia each year, with WA the largest wheat producer at 10.4 mmt.
AEGIC is an initiative of the WA State Government and Grains Australia, and is a delivery partner for Grains Australia’s market insights and market education services.
AEGIC is an initiative of the Western Australian State Government and Grains Australia.
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About AEGIC
The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) is an independent organisation that helps position Australian grain as the preferred choice in international markets.
AEGIC does this by:
- Understanding the needs of grain customers.
- Identifying and supporting grain market opportunities.
- Educating customers on the benefits of Australian grain.
- Innovating to develop new solutions and high-value uses.
This helps the Australian grains industry breed, classify, grow and supply grain that markets prefer.
AEGIC’s primary beneficiaries are Australian grain growers, and the impact of AEGIC’s work spans the whole grains supply chain: from the grower in Australia, whose grain is valued internationally, to the consumer who enjoys excellent noodles, baked products and beer made from Australian grain.