For Growers

Why plant mungbeans?

Mungbean is a valuable summer crop rotation with high water use efficiency, quick maturity and requires minimal fertiliser input. All stages of crop production and processing must comply with strict hygiene practices to ensure the crop meets the highest standards for food safety and hygiene.

The Australian Mungbean Association has crafted a comprehensive mungbean best management guide providing detailed information on all aspects of mungbean production:

  • Pre-planting checklist
  • Varieties for consideration
  • Planting guide
  • Use of accredited agronomists
  • Inoculation
  • Nutrition
  • Weed, disease and inspect pest management
  • Irrigation
  • Harvesting
  • On-farm storage
  • Vendor declaration requirements
  • Marketing

Mungbean varieties

Seek the advice of your AMA accredited agronomist regarding mungbean planting seed that is most suited to your region and growing conditions.
  • Brolga – Newly available for the 2025/26 season – a large, green shiny bean broadly adapted for all growing regions
  • Kookaburra – Newly available for the 2025/26 season – a large, green shiny bean suited to NSW and southern Queensland growing regions including those with disease pressure
  • Celera II – A small seeded variety grown for niche European and Asian markets
  • Jade AU – Australia’s most popular large, green shiny mungbean with high yields and improved powdery mildew resistance
  • Onyx AU – A black gram variety for specialised markets
  • Satin II – A large, green dull seeded variety suitable for niche markets

About planting seed

Working closely with our breeding partners Queensland Department of Primary Industries and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the varieties licenced and commercialised by the AMA are developed especially for Australian conditions, some broadly adapted and others bred to suit specific geographic localities and conditions. Consult with your AMA-accredited agronomist or contact an AMA member company to ensure you are growing mungbeans best suited to your local conditions.

When growing grower-retained seed, varietal purity is essential as buyers will not accept mixtures of mungbean varieties. Mixed seed lines will attract heavy discounts for their appearance and purity.

The quality of retained on-farm seed will deteriorate over time. Ensure your planting seed is replaced every 2-3 years at a minimum to ensure purity, good emergence and vigour.

Ensure the integrity of your planting seed by purchasing mungbean seed from an AMA accredited seed producer or from a reputable reseller.

End point royalties (EPR) on AMA-licenced mungbean varieties

An End Point Royalty (EPR) is a fee charged to growers which flows to both breeders and commercialisation partners to support continued plant breeding and varietal improvement, and development of the mungbean industry. The EPR scheme is based on seed produced (rather than seed purchased) – demonstrating a shared production risk with growers.

The end point royalty for all AMA mungbean varieties applies at the point of delivery and is calculated at $8.00/tonne (plus GST) based on clean, graded grain. The easiest process for the collection and payment of EPR is through an automatic deduction by processors from grower payments and the forwarding the amounts and information directly to the AMA.

These funds are fully reinvested back into the mungbean industry through the QDPI/GRDC-funded National Mungbean Improvement Program to deliver improved mungbean varieties, and by the AMA in:

  • Research and extension activities across the supply chain to increase profitability
  • Agronomy services and training to assist growers and agronomists
  • Trade and market access efforts to improve access for Australian mungbeans internationally
  • Developing standards that underpin the quality and integrity of the Australian mungbean industry
  • Promotional activities to increase grower awareness of the benefits of planting mungbeans

Simply put – the industry’s future growth and improvement relies on the continual reinvestment of these funds.

Australian mungbean growers and processors have adjusted well to the EPR system since its introduction. Compliance measures are being progressed to make the system fair and equitable for all participants in the industry.

Further information around EPR can be found at www.varietycentral.com.au or contact the AMA at info@mungbean.org.au.

Mungbean best management practice course

On-farm hygiene

Growers should be familiar with the AMA Code of Hygienic Practices – particularly the section of the Code (Section II) that relates to hygienic requirements on farm and during transport to the mill. There is a legal obligation to comply with hygienic requirements as set out in the Code.

It is critical that growers adopt the AMA Code of Hygienic Practices to ensure that Australia maintains its reputation as a producer of clean and hygienic food for domestic and export markets.

Selling your mungbeans

Mungbean quality assessment

Mungbean quality is assessed within three quality grades as developed and maintained by the AMA:

  • No. 1
  • Processing
  • Manufacturing

 

Your mungbeans will be assessed and graded on appearance, purity (foreign materials, splits, other seeds, weeds, etc), bean size, moisture, defects (wrinkled grain, pod scale, staining and seed coat analysis), germination, disease and sprouting.

Looking for an AMA accredited mungbean agronomist?