Australia seeks solution to costly fertilisers in wheat genetics

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has exposed a critical vulnerability in Australia’s agricultural sector, with urea fertiliser prices surging by up to 50% over the past two weeks. A key driver has been the sharp decline in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global fertiliser supplies.

Since February, transport flows through the region have dropped significantly, leaving around 1 million tonnes of fertiliser stranded in the Persian Gulf. At the same time, Australia lacks substantial strategic reserves, while damaged infrastructure in the region is expected to constrain supply for months, even if shipping resumes quickly.

In response, the country has intensified efforts to reduce dependence on fertilisers. A major focus is the Wheat Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) project, which brings together leading research institutions and breeding organisations to improve how efficiently wheat uses nitrogen.

Currently, wheat absorbs less than 40% of applied nitrogen, with only about one-third ending up in the grain. Improving these figures through genetic advances could allow farmers to cut fertiliser use without sacrificing yields or grain quality.

Researchers have already identified genetic regions linked to yield, protein content, and nitrogen use efficiency. New wheat lines are being tested across diverse environments, and if successful, they could become a key tool in strengthening the resilience of Australia’s agricultural sector against global supply shocks.

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