The business
is at the forefront of wheat research in Australia, holding a
significant market share nationally with the dominant position
in Prime Hard and Australian Hard in the northern region – we
also operate the only commercial hybrid wheat program in
Australasia.
The University of Sydney has been
involved in wheat breeding since the pioneering work by W.H.
Waterhouse on breeding for rust resistance in the 1920’s. The
varieties released by the University are major contributors to
overcoming the continual threat to profitable and reliable
production posed by the wheat rusts, not only in the northern
region, but also elsewhere in Australia. In recent times,
because of the past success in combating the perils of wheat
rusts, attention has been focussed on developing
resistance/tolerances to other biotic and abiotic constraints
to production.
Ever since the first varieties were
released, the importance of being able to produce large
quantities of pure seed to release to growers was appreciated,
a pure seed scheme established in the early 1980’s was the
basis of the collaboration that led to the development of
SunPrime Seeds Pty Ltd – a ISO9002 accredited seed company.
