Australian faba beans and varieties: Different types of beans are used because of different flavors and textures. The beans most commonly grown in Australia are faba beans. There are two main types of broad beans – longpods and shorts (Windsor). Long pods are harder, so they are suitable for fall and early spring plantings, and their seeds are kidney-shaped. Windsor varieties of round beans are shorter and wider in pods.

Australian Faba beans can be categorized as follows:

Broad Beans include: PBA Kareema, Aquadulse

Faba bean beans include: PBA Nasma, PBA Zahra, PBA Rana

Medium faba beans include: PBA Samira, PBA Warda, Nura, Cairo, Farah, Fiesta VF

Small faba beans include: Dosa, Fjord, Barcoll

Bean seeds can be planted in the fall (October to November) or from February to April, in the spring. Beans and especially Broad beans are suitable for Low rainfall areas. If it is limited, the plants will not grow fully and the pods will be close to the ground. They do not tolerate hot conditions during flowering, which can lead to weak pods and premature flowering. Hot and dry conditions during flowering usually lead to a severe reduction in yield potential.

Bean growth is divided into five main stages: germination and emergence, vegetative, reproductive, pod aging and stem aging. Bean bushes grow vertically and can grow up to about 2 at maturity, yet most Australian crops are less than 1.5 meters tall. They produce branches that originate from the base. The leaves are compound and the leaves that are in the early stages of growth have only 2 leaflets and there are leaves that flower up to 7 leaflets per leaf.

Faba beans are pollinated, however, wild bees and Hive bees can also increase pollination rates and yields. Flowering ends when the air temperature approaches 30 degrees Celsius and then only a small number of bearing nodes are left.

The pods in a product grow well, about 20 to 30 cm above the ground. Each pod contains 2 to 4 seeds, which vary depending on their size. The lower pods mature and turn black, as do the lower leaves. It continues upwards as the plant ages.

Australian faba beans industry began in 1980s and have grown steadily to become the world’s number one exporter. Faba beans are now grown in all parts of Australia. Vicia faba minor origin is middle east and now is an important food product in China and many parts of the Mediterranean and Africa.

Broad beans (Vicia faba major) are the same beans and have a similar market (i.e. have properties) but are more widely used in Australia, for example, to southern Europe as well as Southeast Asia. They are roasted there and are used as a middle food.

Beans vary in shape and color from a variety of small seeds of “Fjord type” to medium-sized “Fiesta” and larger PBA Rana. There are also large broad beans (Aquadolus) and PBA Kareema) and round or tick horse beans with small to medium grains.

Faba beans, like other legumes, can be made into starch and fiber. Their cultivation is (28-32%) which is higher than farm chickpeas (24%) and they have little oil. It is mainly exported to regions in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, which is Egypt Both types of beans are commonly used to make canned food, sauces and falafels. Faba beans are consumed both by humans and are valuable as animal feed.

Quality

Physical appearance is one of the most important criteria for beans to meet the standard for, human food. For instance, physical appearance can be negatively impacted by insect damage, improper handling or improper storage, thus making them less desirable for human, consumption. Some of the characteristics that could result in a discounted price include:

• Blackened Seed Coats

• Cracks

• Discolouration

• Splits

• Sprouting

• Perforation

• Mold

• Fireburnt

• Odor