Australia
November 4, 2009
The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and Hexima Limited announced today a strategic alliance to explore opportunities to research and develop advanced technologies for the improvement of cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, for the Australian domestic and export markets.
Opportunities would draw upon Hexima and ACPFG’s respective expertise and could include traits that confer resistance to both fungal disease and environmental stresses, reducing seasonal volatility and improving grain quality and yield.
Hexima CEO, Joshua Hofheimer stated, “we are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with some of Australia’s leading plant scientists who focus on improving plants’ resistance to environmental stresses such as drought, salinity and mineral deficiencies. Combining these technologies with Hexima’s expertise in fungal disease and other pest resistance, may create robust and complimentary traits to benefit growers, improve yields and create healthier crops.”
“We appreciate the commercial focus of Hexima on development of fungal disease control technology which is strengthened through its collaboration with DuPont/Pioneer Hi-bred,” comments ACPFG CEO Peter Langridge. “Our scientists have a long history of collaboration, and we are pleased for the opportunity to translate the government, industry and academic support of ACPFG into partnerships that will benefit domestic Australian agribusinesses.”
Wheat is the largest crop grown globally, with approximately 223 million hectares planted annually, and Australia is the third largest exporter of wheat behind only the US and Canada. However, with grain supplies near historic lows, and global population expected to exceed 8 billion by the year 2025 (approximately a 33% increase), it is an imperative to boost productivity through environmentally sustainable methods. Nonetheless, development and commercialisation would take a number of years, as there is currently no GM wheat available in the market.
About Hexima:
Hexima Limited is an ASX-listed agribusiness company (ASX Code: HXL) developing innovative gene technologies to help farmers meet growing demands for food and fibre by improving yields from arable land. Hexima’s core technologies aim to increase the yield of commercial crops, by enhancing their resistance to insects and fungal pests. Visit www.hexima.com.au for more information.
About ACPFG:
The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG), focuses on improving the resistance of crops to stresses that impact agriculture in Australia, including drought, salinity, high or low temperatures and mineral deficiencies or toxicities. These stresses, known as abiotic stresses, are a major cause of cereal crop yield and quality loss throughout the world. ACPFG’s head office is at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus. Visit www.acpfg.com.au for more information.
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