MONHEIM, GERMANY: Bayer CropScience plans to establish a new breeding centre in the Wimmera region, near Horsham (Victoria, Australia), focused on wheat and oilseeds. The company plans to invest around €12 million (AUD 14 million) for the new station in Western Victoria. Construction of the new breeding centre will commence in the coming months with first local breeding programmes expected to yield results for Australian farmers within the decade. The target is development of new varieties with higher yields and productivity improvements tailored to Australian conditions.
A long term rental agreement for land on which to build the laboratory and glasshouse facilities have been agreed with Longerenong College and Workco Ltd. Up to 20 full-time employees will work at the centre in the future. The new breeding station will also contribute for further expansion especially for wheat planned in Asia and Latin America in the medium term.
“With demand for wheat and oilseeds growing worldwide, we drive our efforts towards producing new high-yielding varieties that are better able to withstand pests, diseases and able to thrive under environmental stresses like drought,” said Dr Mathias Kremer, Head, BioScience business unit, Bayer CropScience. Australia is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products and ranks as the 3rd largest exporter for wheat and the 2nd largest for oilseeds.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development in Victoria, Peter Ryan, announced that the coalition government would provide AUD 1.2 million to upgrade road access to the facility. The provision of safe all-weather access to the Longerenong site will consolidate the partnership between Bayer CropScience, Longerenong College, the Victorian Government and Horsham Rural City, which contributed AUD 100,000 to the project.
© WOC News