Often dismissed as a niche crop, there is suddenly the prospect of healthier returns, noteworthy yield increases and a renewed market focus, which all bode well for growers.

The president of the Australian Mungbean Association (AMA), Stephen Donnelly, was in an upbeat mood as he championed the Australian pulse industry when speaking at the AMA's annual general meeting in Toowoomba, Qld.

"The new varieties will make the industry a more viable cropping option to the farming community," he said.

"They will open up a range of opportunities in terms of value adding and market access, to name but a few."

Mr Donnelly said Australian mungbeans were acknowledged for being a premium product with overseas buyers confident the produce in each box or container was from only one line and could, if required, be traced back to individual farms.

"In the last two years our mungbeans have been $100/t over our competitors - just because of that factor," he said.

QDPI&F and GRDC funding paved the way for the commercialisation of Crystal and Satin II, according to QDPI&F senior research scientist, Dr Merrill Ryan.

A noted industry identity, Dr Ryan said some 160 varieties, including the two newcomers, had been rigorously field tested following the cessation of CSIRO’s mungbean breeding programme in 2002.

The upshot sees both varieties offering yield increases of up to 20pc over current comparable varieties, plus an improved agronomic package with enhanced disease resistance.