InterGrain has announced the release of two new Australian Noodle Wheat (ANW) varieties, IG-Collie​ (tested as IGW8247) and IG-Quokka​ (tested as IGW8287), delivering strong yield potential, quality performance and improved market fit for West Australian growers across key wheat growing regions.

The varieties were officially launched in Japan, with InterGrain representatives presenting IG-Collie​ and IG-Quokka​ to the Japan Flour Millers Association during a meeting in Tokyo on 26 May, highlighting the company’s strong connection with its key end-user markets.

InterGrain CEO Tresslyn Walmsley said the international launch reinforced the importance of aligning breeding outcomes with customer expectations.

“IG-Collie​ and IG-Quokka​ represent the next generation of ANW wheats, offering growers improved yield stability, strong physical grain characteristics and the quality traits required by our premium export customers,” Ms Walmsley said.

“InterGrain works closely with our end users to ensure the flour produced from the ANW wheats we breed meets industry expectations and allows Japanese consumers to enjoy the world’s highest quality udon noodles.

“Launching these varieties in Japan reflects the strength of those relationships and our long-term commitment to delivering varieties that are valued right through the supply chain.”

IG-Collie​ (IGW8247) is a high-yielding, mid-slow maturity ANW wheat ideally suited to medium to high rainfall environments and late April to early May sowing windows. NVT WA Main Season wheat trials (2021-2025) show IG-Collie​ to consistently deliver strong yield performance, including 4-5% yield advantage over Kinsei​, alongside strong grain characteristics such as high test weight and low screenings.

InterGrain Wheat Breeder Dr Jayfred Godoy said IG-Collie​ offers a valuable step forward for growers targeting yield and grain quality.

“IG-Collie​ delivers a compelling combination of yield and disease resistance with improvements over current industry standards in both agronomic performance and grain quality,” Dr Godoy said.

“This variety has been extensively evaluated through National Variety Trials, demonstrating reliable performance across a range of environments.”

IG-Quokka​ (IGW8287) complements IG-Collie​ with its mid maturity and strong physical grain quality performance, including very low screenings and high test weights across trials.

IG-Quokka​ features a 7% yield increase over Ninja (2018-2025 InterGrain MET trials) and better rust and powdery mildew resistance compared to Ninja​ and Rottnest​.

Dr Godoy said the development of both varieties was underpinned by close collaboration with international customers.

“Our breeding program places a strong emphasis on understanding end-user requirements and ensuring our varieties deliver the quality attributes needed for premium noodle products,” he said.

Ms Walmsley said these two releases reflects InterGrain’s continued leadership in noodle wheat breeding.

“These new varieties highlight our ongoing investment in innovation, supporting growers with robust paddock performance while delivering the quality demanded by international markets,” she said.

“It has been a pleasure to officially launch IG-Collie​ and IG-Quokka​ in Japan, and we look forward to these varieties achieving success in both West Australian paddocks and on Japan’s dining tables.”

IG-Collie​ and IG-Quokka​ seed will be commercially available through InterGrain’s Seedclub network for 2027 planting.

Photo Caption: Dr Jayfred Godoy, InterGrain’s Soft Wheat Breeder (second from right), alongside Mr. Tomokazu Kubo from Nippn Flour Milling Corporation, Mr Kunimitsu Fukushima from Nisshin Flour Milling, and Dr Larisa Cato of Grains Australia, undertaking official noodle sensory testing of new ANW varieties IG-Quokka​ and IG-Collie​, launched this week in Japan.