InterGrain CEO Tress Walmsley, research and business development manager Dini Ganesalingam and wheat breeder Dan Mullan. Photo: InterGrain

AUSTRALIAN cereal-breeding company, InterGrain, and American-based biotech seed company, Inari, have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at improving the yield potential of wheat to enhance the crop’s long-term viability.

The partnership brings together InterGrain’s wheat genetics with Inari’s predictive design and multiplex gene-editing capabilities, promising a future of products that represent a step-change in yield potential.

InterGrain chief executive officer Tress Walmsley said the collaboration is targeting a 10-15 per cent increase in wheat yield potential, in addition to more efficient use of inputs.

“This is an exciting opportunity for both Australian growers and InterGrain, with the technology having the capacity to dramatically improve grower on-farm profitability through the delivery of significantly higher yielding varieties across a range of grain growing environments,” Ms Walmsley said.

Inari CEO Ponsi Trivisvavet

“Inari’s team brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, and InterGrain values the collaboration capability to bring our shared vision for a more sustainable future for agriculture to life.

“The genetic advancements available within our future varieties will ensure Australian growers’ competitive market advantages are maintained.”

Inari chief executive officer Ponsi Trivisvavet said the company uses data science and software engineering to address the complex systems within plants that impact factors such as productivity and resource-use efficiency.

“This collaboration with InterGrain is a critical next step in Inari’s mission to transform the crops most responsible for global food security,” Ms Trivisvavet said.

The integration of this new breeding technology will meet Australian regulatory requirements.

InterGrain is jointly owned by the Western Australia Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

It has offices in Perth and Horsham.

Source: InterGrain