Wheat customers in South East Asia and Taiwan have told us that our Australian wheat quality seminars are highly valuable in helping them optimise the value of Australian wheat.
Between March and May 2024, AEGIC delivered seminars in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Taipei to flour millers, food manufacturers, grain traders and other grains industry representatives.
Feedback from participants was very positive.
Our wheat has a great reputation in South East Asia, particularly for noodles. South East Asia is Australia’s most important wheat market, with more than $6 billion worth of exports in 2023. That’s more than 40% of the value of all Australian wheat exports.
This chart shows the value of 2023 Australian wheat exports to major South East Asian markets, compared with the total value of all Australian wheat exports (source: ABS).
AEGIC’s 2024 Australian wheat quality seminars, led by Dr Larisa Cato, focused on the quality and functionality of Australian wheat for noodles and bread for this important market.
The seminar series began with a highly successful event in Jakarta attended by about 100 representatives of Indonesia’s flour milling and manufacturing industry. Guests received practical, technical information about the benefits of Australian wheat and how to optimise their milling processes and there was great interest in AEGIC’s eLearning program for flour millers.
South East Asia is one of Australia’s most important markets for wheat. Providing ongoing technical support is highly appreciated by customers and makes it more likely they will continue to purchase from Australia. AEGIC helps maintain Australia’s position in South East Asian markets by engaging with flour mills and their customers to understand what they need from Australian wheat.
This information is provided to the Australian industry to help inform breeding decisions so that wheat continues to meet their needs. For example, AEGIC research found that Australian wheat is highly regarded for colour, and texture can be improved.
Feedback from seminar participants
“Great learning experience. I would highly recommend.”
“The quality information was superb and to see it visually in the lab/bakery was great.”
“I think this training is very helpful for people in the grain industry.”
“Great presentation and knowledge form Larisa very happy to discuss and hear ideas.”
“More engagement would be better, but this seminar is a great step in the right direction. :)”
In a separate project with breeding company InterGrain, AEGIC is seeking opportunities for WA udon noodle wheat to potentially be used for other premium food products throughout Asia.
While in market, we also spoke to noodle makers like Jakarta’s Eddy Mie (pictured below), who prefers using Australian wheat because of its good colour and texture. Eddy uses about 250kg of flour each day for freshly made noodles which are then sold at their street-side vendor. His business is all about fresh yellow alkaline noodles (three different shapes and sizes) and wonton skins.
AGIC Asia 2024: Jakarta and Shanghai
The highly successful Australian Grains Industry Conferences in Jakarta and Shanghai during March featured AEGIC’s insights on Australian oats for health, Australian soft wheat for cakes and cookies, and the benefits of Australian grains for animal feed.
AGIC Asia, presented by Grain Trade Australia, is a fantastic annual opportunity for the Australian grains industry to present a united front to customers in our most important export region about the benefits of sourcing grain from Australia.
AEGIC’s presentations were delivered in collaboration with Grains Australia under the theme “maximising the value of Australian grain”.
Accessing health benefits of oats in our daily diets
Dr Sabori Mitra: Senior Research Scientists – Oats
Sabori is a leading oat research scientist and a key part of the team that developed AEGIC’s 100% whole grain oat noodles and oat “rice” products.
Sabori’s insights at AGIC Jakarta were tailored towards the Indonesian market where health and wellbeing are an emerging issue.
Key messages:
- Health issues such as diabetes and heart disease are increasing in Asia.
- Australian oats are high quality, clean and very healthy.
- AEGIC product innovation will help consumers eat more oats.
Read full presentation: Accessing health benefits of oats in our daily diets
Soft wheat opportunities
Dr Siem Siah: Senior Research Scientist
AEGIC analysis determined that soft wheat demand will grow strongly in the coming years. The annual growth rate in South East Asia for cakes and biscuits is twice that of noodles, which is what Australian wheat is typically mostly used for.
Responding to this opportunity, AEGIC began working with growers, breeders and other industry stakeholders to support a potential new Australian soft wheat industry.
Dr Siem Siah leads AEGIC’s soft wheat research and delivered her insights at both AGIC Jakarta and AGIC Shanghai on the benefits of Australian soft wheat for Asian markets.
Key messages:
- Asian demand for cakes and cookies is increasing.
- AEGIC is the interface between the market and the Australian breeding programs.
- Australian soft wheat may be a good option in the medium to long term
Read full presentation: Soft wheat opportunities
Australian feed grains in Chinese swine rations
Dr Megan Edwards: animal nutrition consultant
Dr Megan Edwards is a well-respected feed nutrition expert who delivers practical information on how to maximise the value of feed grains on behalf of AEGIC.
Key messages
- Australian feed grains have many benefits:
- Clean, nutritious alternative starch and protein sources.
- Excellent growing conditions, and quality control.
Australian barley, lupins and faba beans bring additional functional value to assist Chinese producers to produce healthier more productive pigs.
Read full presentation: Maximising value of Australian feed grains in Chinese swine rations.
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AEGIC’s wheat experts will continue to work with key customers in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines to reinforce why Australian wheat should be their number one choice.
AEGIC is an initiative of the Western Australian State Government and Grains Australia.