ACPFG, DuPont expand agbiotech research deal

The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG) and DuPont have expanded their collaborative research on improving the productivity of crops including wheat.

The R&D program will concentrate on cereal breeding through molecular markers, discovery research for agronomic traits and hybrid seed production.

DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Breed and ACPFG are also currently researching ways to breed agronomic traits that increase drought tolerance in crops, and to decrease the need to use soil-applied nitrogen fertiliser in crops including corn, soybeans, canola and rice.

ACPFG and Pioneer Hi-Breed have been co-operating on crops research since 2005, and extended their existing agreement in 2010.

Terms of the expanded agreement have not been disclosed.

DuPont used last week's Gulfood food industry trade show to announce a US$10 billion ($9.32 billion) commitment to invest in food, agricultural and nutrition R&D projects.

Pioneer H-Breed president Paul Schickler said that increased agricultural research is a growing necessity. “It’s critical that we increase our efforts to grow global food production to meet the needs of our growing population,” he said.

Wheat is the staple food for 35% of the world's population and represents 20% of total protein intake.

ACPFG was founded in December 2002 using grant money from the Australian Research Council and the Grains Research and Development Council. It also receives funding from the Adelaide, Melbourne, South Australia and Queensland universities, and has research nodes at each institution.