A new national research effort, OzMedicago, has begun work to build Australia’s first integrated genotype-to-phenotype resource for annual Medicago species. These nitrogen-fixing pasture legumes underpin nearly 25 million hectares of Australian grazing land, particularly in low- and medium-rainfall regions, and play an important role in soil health, farm productivity and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers.
The initiative will generate a comprehensive, openly accessible dataset that connects genomic, phenotypic and metabolomic information for more than 750 accessions across five Medicago species. This includes detailed measurements of naturally occurring compounds, such as saponins and tannins, which show emerging potential to reduce methane emissions from grazing livestock.
By combining genomics, high-throughput phenotyping and advanced metabolite profiling, OzMedicago aims to accelerate the development of climate-resilient, low-emissions pasture legumes and strengthen national capacity in legume research. The project also supports global efforts by extending the utility of Medicago truncatula as a model species for legume biology.
OzMedicago brings together the University of Adelaide and its Waite Research Institute, Department of Primary Industries and Regions of South Australia (PIRSA) – South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI, the Australian Pastures Genebank (APG), the Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN), the Australian Wine Research Institute, Metabolomics Australia and Bioplatforms Australia. The APG, which curates the world’s largest collection of Medicago germplasm, will contribute seeds, barcoding and imaging, with bidirectional links between the APG database and the project’s genomic platform, ensuring long-term accessibility.
Associate Professor Bettina Berger, Scientific Director of the APPN, said the platform will provide an unprecedented national resource for legume research and breeding, fostering new collaborations, supporting early-career scientists and enabling the rapid translation of new discoveries into agricultural benefit.
All the data generated from the OzMedicago project will be released via a scalable public platform connected to the APG. Bioplatforms Australia’s General Manager of Science Programs, Sarah Richmond, said that open reference datasets of this kind form essential digital infrastructure that supports productivity, sustainability and emissions-reduction goals across the agriculture sector.
OzMedicago is supported by Bioplatforms Australia, Metabolomics Australia, APPN, PIRSA–SARDI, the Waite Research Institute and the Australian Wine Research Institute. APPN, Bioplatforms Australia and Metabolomics Australia are enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) fund.
Information in this article has been adapted from a media release issued on 7 November 2025 by the Australian Plant Phenomics Network.