Research into developing more productive wheat varieties in Australia has been given a major boost following an equity investment in HRZ Wheats by one of the nation’s leading agricultural disease and pest control companies, Dow AgroSciences Australia.

Established in 2003 specifically to develop hardy, high-rainfall-zone (HRZ) wheat varieties, HRZ Wheats’ other equity partners include CSIRO, New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research, Landmark Operations and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

“The Dow AgroSciences investment ensures that HRZ Wheats will continue to provide Australian growers with high yielding, milling quality, disease resistant wheat varieties to meet the challenges of the high rainfall zone,” CSIRO plant industry chief and HRZ wheats board director, Dr Jeremy Burdon said.

“Cutting-edge breeding technologies and novel germplasm now available to HRZ Wheats as part of Dow’s investment will benefit the Australian breeding industry.”