Melbourne, Australia
August, 2000

A rapidly growing Australian Agri-biotechnology business which began as an R & D seed project in the early 1990’s was this week recognised as an industry leader with the prestigious Australian Institute of Science and Technology award for excellence in Technology and Innovation.

Technico, an agri-biotechnology company based in New South Wales, won industry recognition for its extraordinary achievements at the 2000 Rabobank Agribusiness Awards for Excellence held in Melbourne on August 17^th.

Established in 1996, in association with Monash University and the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, the awards have grown to become the premier event for industry recognition of excellent performance in the areas of value adding, export, technology and innovation and environmental management.

Rabobank Australia, CEO, Mr Cor Broekhuyse, said the awards provided an opportunity to recognise and showcase some of Australia’s leading talent in the agribusiness field.

"These are the individuals and companies that will take Australia forward, and it is a privilege to publicly support and acknowledge such innovation, hard work and talent," Mr Broekhuyse said.

Technico’s TECHNITUBER® seed potato production technology is delivering what can only be described as extreme efficiencies in an industry responsible for the world’s fourth largest crop - potatoes.

The technology enables the rapid multiplication of TECHNITUBER^® seed potatoes from pathogen tested plantlets in controlled environments. The company is using this technology to provide a highly reliable supply of premium quality, early generation seed potatoes and commercial potatoes to the US$100 billion global potato industry. Mr David McDonald, Technico’s managing director said "the company also enables agri-genetic companies and established seed breeders such as Netherlands based AGRICO, to realise the benefits of their advances in potato crops many years earlier than are currently possible under traditional seed production schemes"

Mr McDonald further explained that "Technico now boasts an expanding world wide production network with TECHNITUBER® seed production facilities now established in each of the US, Australia, Mexico, China and India. We have also established field programs, which are delivering large volumes of affordable, early generation seed to our global customer base, which includes global food processors, Frito Lay, McCain Foods and Simplot".

"Technico provides valuable supply chain solutions and this award recognises our efforts to drive our technology forward through to the global industry" added Mr McDonald.