AUSTRALIA'S wheat breeding capacity has been boosted with InterGrain Pty Ltd entering a collaboration agreement with agri-giant Monsanto.
Chair of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Keith Perrett, said the collaboration would deliver big increases in wheat performance for Australian growers, targeting improvements in yield performance, disease resistance, drought tolerance and end-use qualities.
"As an InterGrain shareholder, the GRDC Board supports the InterGrain Board decision for Monsanto to purchase a minority interest in InterGrain," Mr Perrett said today in a statement.
"It is a positive step forward for the Australian grains industry as it links Australian breeding with the global research and development effort.
"Australia must tap into global R&D to make the necessary advances in breeding to serve the Australian grains industry into the future.
"We are working to ensure growers have access to superior varieties that enable them to effectively compete in global grain markets.
"The GRDC targets its investment in R&D so as to best serve growers and to meet federal government priorities.
"The GRDC’s wheat breeding strategy aims to build and sustain world-leading breeding programs and ensure that improved grain varieties are developed for Australian growers."
Monsanto is a global bioscience technology company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, in the US, and has locations in multiple locations around the world.
It is a global provider of technology based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality, Mr Perrett said.
Australian growers – through the West Australian Government and the GRDC — would continue to maintain the majority stake in InterGrain, he said.
