Atlanta, Georgia, USA
May 19, 2009
Victoria has forged a global
alliance with Dow AgroSciences
for crop innovation, Minister for Innovation of Victoria Gavin
Jennings announced today at BIO2009 in Atlanta.
The research partnership will see Victoria strengthen its
position as a leader in agricultural biotechnology as scientists
in Australia and the USA work together to develop new plant
traits and plant varieties for Victorian and international
farmers.
The agreement – that established a significant collaborative R&D
effort between the Victorian
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Dow AgroSciences
LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company -- is
the largest international agricultural biotechnology alliance
undertaken by the Victorian Government to date.
“This joint research and development effort will accelerate the
creation of unique solutions,” said Mr. Jennings.
“We are committed to driving world-leading innovation in
science, technology and practice, to enable farmers to respond
to pressures such as climate change and to maintain a
sustainable agriculture industry for the benefit of all
Victorians,” said Mr. Jennings.
Mr. Jennings joined Jerome Peribere, Dow AgroSciences President
and CEO, and Daniel R. Kittle, Ph.D., Dow AgroSciences Vice
President for Research & Development, at BIO2009 to sign the
agreement.
“Victoria is clearly establishing itself as a global leader in
agricultural biotechnology and Dow AgroSciences is pleased to
set up this unique collaboration with DPI’s capabilities based
at the Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, in which technologies
and scientific expertise will be shared to deliver plant-based
solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life for
the world’s growing population,” said Kittle.
“The initial research projects will focus on the development of
agronomically important technologies that will improve yields in
crops to meet growing global demands for food, feed and energy,”
said Professor German Spangenberg, DPI’s Executive Director of
Biosciences Research who is to lead the R&D efforts in Victoria.
“One of the key crops will include canola, which is the third
largest crop in Australia, and will further enhance Dow
AgroSciences’ Omega-9 canola oil platform. Other crops targeted
in this large-scale research partnership between DPI and Dow
AgroSciences will include traits for corn and wheat as well as
bioenergy crops,” Kittle said.
About Victoria’s Biosciences Research Centre
The new $230 million Biosciences Research Centre, a joint
venture between the Victorian Government and
La Trobe University,
will boost Victoria’s ability to make these important scientific
discoveries. To be located in Bundoora, Melbourne, the facility
will be a world-class centre for agricultural biosciences
research and development. Other agencies and organisations with
complementary science objectives are invited to partner or link
in to the new Centre. Learn more at
www.dpi.vic.gov.au/brc.
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a
top-tier agricultural company that combines the power of science
and technology with the "Human Element” to constantly improve
what is essential to human progress. Dow AgroSciences provides
innovative technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation
management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology to
serve the world's growing population. Global sales for Dow
AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical
Company, are $4.5 billion. Learn more at
www.dowagro.com.
Other news
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