Breeding and quality analysis of rapeseed

This study is an ex-post, economic assessment of two projects supported by ACIAR and concerned with the breeding and quality analysis of rapeseed in Australia and China. These projects were carried out sequentially with the first one commencing on 1 July 1986. The second one was completed on 30 June 1991. The projects were essentially an exchange of knowledge and germplasm of rape (Brassica napus) between plant breeders in Australia and China. The projects resulted in the release of varieties of rape that yielded improved seed in Australia, China and other developed and developing countries. An economic evaluation of these projects was made in 1991 and the results published in Chudleigh (1991). Assumptions made in the 1991 analysis have now been updated. Despite the increased information available about the projects and their outcomes, it was still necessary to make various assumptions, particularly with regard to the valuation of benefits and their attribution to the ACIAR projects. The benefits accruing to both Australia and China are now estimated to be a little less than those estimated in 1991. Among the reasons for this were difficulties experienced in hybrid seed production in Australia and the reduced benefits in China because improved rapeseed is not always segregated at crushing plants. Nevertheless, the 1999 analysis demonstrates that the projects have provided significant benefits, especially to China. It is concluded that the projects have provided a rate of economic return of at least 28% on the funds invested in both Australia and China. It is likely that as time passes the returns will be considerably higher than estimated here because the areas planted to new, open-pollinated and hybrid varieties of rape will expand in China in the future. Further, there are likely to have been significant benefits to the rest of the world, though these are not estimated here.