A ground breaking joint venture between the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and one of the world’s biggest inoculant technology companies, Philom Bios, will give Australian grain growers a head start on the world stage. This will be achieved through increased productivity by providing growers with inoculants for better disease control and healthier cereal crops.

Canadian-based Philom Bios is regarded as a world leader in high value inoculant development and ‘fertiliser efficiency’ tools.  Inoculants are living microbes, such as fungi or bacteria, which are applied either to the seed or the soil.

The GRDC, funded by grain growers and the Australian Government, is one of the world’s leading grains research investment organisations and is responsible for planning, investing and overseeing research and development.

“This new joint venture, Philom Bios Australia (PBA) will be owned 50:50 by the GRDC and Philom Bios and is considered to be the most effective way to deliver the new technology to growers”, Vince Logan, GRDC executive manager new products said.  “It represents a long-term payback to the Australian grains industry because the Australian-developed inoculants will be marketed and sold globally.”

Heading up the new Adelaide-based Australian PBA company as chief executive officer will be Sandford Gleddie, previously vice president of research and business development with Philom Bios International.  He brings with him 20 years experience in sales, marketing and technology development.

“It is an opportunity to commercialise the world-leading Australian soil biology research, and develop new crop nutrient, growth-enhancing and soil disease bio-control inoculant products” Mr Gleddie said.

RELATED RELEASE
- Philom Bios and GRDC announce CEO for Australian joint venture (June 06)
- International joint venture will commercialise high value inoculants in Australia (April 06)