New Zealand
September 6, 2007
The future of forage brassicas and
their important role in New Zealand pastoral farming has been
secured by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
milestone towards the creation of a joint venture between
PGG Wrightson Seeds
and Crop & Food Research.
An extremely significant area of forage brassicas are grown each
year in New Zealand, making them by far the largest scale
crop-type in the country. Brassicas are important for their
potential to produce high quality forage and for their role as
break crops during pasture renewal. Kale, swedes, rape and
turnips are the most commonly grown forage brassicas in New
Zealand and are particularly valuable to farmers during
difficult seasons including dry summers and cold winters.
The joint venture will be known as Forage Innovations and will
bring the breeding resources of these two international
agricultural research and marketing organisations together,
specifically to improve the quality of forage brassica
cultivars, primarily for the benefit of New Zealand farmers.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding took place between
the organisations on Wednesday, September 5, at PGG Wrightson’s
Kimihia facility near Lincoln.
Crop & Food Research and PGG Wrightson Seeds are leading
developers of brassica forage crop seed.
PGG Wrightson Seeds has offices in New Zealand, Australia and
South America and trades in many other international markets
through its trading partners. It is now one of the largest
proprietary forage seed businesses in the southern hemisphere.
Crop & Food Research is recognised internationally as a breeder
of quality forage brassicas and many other vegetable and arable
crops.
Under the new agreement, PGG Wrightson Seeds will identify
market opportunities and market the seed products through its
distribution channels.
General Manager of PGG Wrightson Seeds, Mr John McKenzie, says
the joint venture is a way of securing excellent scientific
innovation and will provide an ideal framework for the parties
to build on their existing relationships.
”Research is a long-term business and we very much wanted to
under-pin the platform that already exists by entering into a
more encompassing and longer term agreement into the future.”
Crop & Food Research Chief Executive, Mr Mark Ward, says the
venture will help secure long-term research funding for its
breeding programmes.
“Plant breeding requires long-term commitment and this new
venture will ensure that farmers get the best this country can
offer in forage brassica research.”
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