August 2,  2001

Ausgrainz, an alliance between Australia's CSIRO and New Zealand's Crop and Food Research
(C&FR) should lead to increased competitiveness in the global grains markets.

The trans-Tasman agreement between the public research organisations will expand the two countries' plant breeding efforts by widening access to international germplasm and building the scientific research base.

The Ausgrainz agreement will be signed today (Thursday) at 12.30pm by CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Geoff Garrett, and C&FR Chief Executive Mr Paul Tocker at CSIRO Plant Industry's laboratories in Canberra.

Australia's wheat industry alone is worth around $4.5 billion, with around $3.8 billion of that
coming from exports.

New Zealand's grains industry is valued at around $500 million, with considerable scope for
developing niche market products.

"Science and technology have been one of the key drivers for the success and growth of the
Australian grains industry," says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief Dr Jim Peacock.

"And science and technology will continue to increase the value of that market and Australia's other
grains markets by developing more premium cultivars with additional traits like better disease
resistance, performance in a greater range of conditions and quality characteristics for end
products.

"CSIRO brings to Ausgrainz the potential for all of these through its expertise and track record in
breeding elite culitivars and expertise in cereal chemistry.

"This alliance will only strengthen each country's standing in international scientific and business
circles."

C&FR Chief Executive MrPaul Tocker, says the agreement turns an informal occasional
collaboration into a focused partnership.

"C&FR and CSIRO have many complementary projects and share a similar research philosophy.

"Ausgrainz is the first step in building our relationship, which we see as long term, and will allow
both organisations to collaborate on complementary as well as new projects, to reach the mutual
goal of building Australian and New Zealand grains markets."

"C&FR will bring to the partnership access to a wider diversity of germplasm and experience in
"route to market" technology and management experience."

"The combined strength of CSIRO and Crop and Food Research will ensure a more commercial
focus for elite new cultivars — that benefits growers and the food processing industry," he says.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Geoff Garrett says this agreement is testament to CSIRO's
commitment to the future of Australian research.

More information:

CSIRO
Dr Jim Peacock, 61 2 6246 5372
Ms Jane Kahler, +61 2 6246 5077, Mobile: 0419 494 137, Email: Jane.Kahler@pi.csiro.au

Crop and Food Research
Mr Peter Neilson, 61 2 6020 3221
Mr Howard Bezar, 64 3 325 6400 Mobile: 025 331 841, Email: BezarH@crop.cri.nz 

CSIRO news release
N3700