DuPont Crop Protection and three Western Australian Research Groups have announced the initiation of a research development license whereby DuPont Crop Protection will evaluate and explore the seed germination technology jointly developed by the three Western Australian partners.

The technology concerns an active seed germination enhancement compound isolated from smoke that was reported in Science in July 2004* by researchers from The University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, and Kings Park and Botanic Garden (Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority).

Dr Pat Confalone, director, Research and Development, DuPont Crop Protection said, “We are pleased that these three distinguished Western Australian institutions have selected DuPont Crop Protection as a partner to further evaluate and determine the commercial potential of their new technology.  This discovery potentially expands our ability to bring important benefits to our customers that go beyond crop protection applications.  We look forward to developing a long and productive collaboration with our Australian partners to explore the full utility of this technology in production agriculture.”

The Office of Industry and Innovation at The University of Western Australia led the negotiations on behalf of the West Australian researchers.

Dr Andy Sierakowski, director of this office, stated that:  “We are all very excited with this opportunity to work closely with DuPont Crop Protection in the next phase of research and development leading to commercialization of this novel technology”.  He went on to add that, "Once again the link between first-class high impact research and commercial opportunities had been proven."

The University of Western Australia is one of Australia's leading research-intensive universities and the premier research institution in Western Australia.  Its mission is to advance, transmit, and sustain knowledge and understanding, through the conduct of teaching, research and scholarship at the highest international standards, for the benefit of the national and international communities and the State of Western Australia. 

Murdoch University has established itself as a high-quality institution for both teaching and research.  Murdoch University’s researchers work at the cutting edge of many fields including: 

·                      Agricultural and Veterinary Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

·                      Hydrometallurgy

·                      Technologies and Policies for Sustainable Development

·                      Ecosystems Management and Restoration

·                      Interactive Media

Kings Park and Botanic Garden (Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority) is a leading national research institution in conservation biology and restoration ecology.  The materializing of the agreement caps 12 years of research into the action of bushfires and smoke on the germination of fire-stimulated wild species.

DuPont is a science company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

* Related release:
Western Australian  researchers identify compound in smoke which promotes seed germination