PRIORITIES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE USTRALIAN-TROPICAL-FORAGES-GENETIC-RESOURCE-CENTER

An outline is given of the functions and activities of the Australian Tropical Forages Genetic Resource Centre, as an introductory paper to a Workshop, entitled ''Forage Genetic Resources - Meeting the Requirem ents of Industry'', held at Marburg, south-east Queensland on June 3-4 , 1996. Activities include: introduction, post-entry quarantine, conse rvation, characterisation, evaluation and selection for commercial dev elopment of pasture legumes and grasses and root-nodule bacteria (RNB) . Current priorities are directed strongly towards herbaceous legumes and their associated RNB for pastures and leys, developing forages for smallholders in south-east Asia and developing grasses for stabilisin g mine-spoils in central Queensland. However, evidence from recent yea rs indicates that there is a reduction in support from traditional sou rces and the ATFGRC might need to refocus on new opportunities.