Research & Development

We are world leaders in delivering forage innovations to our farmer customers. PGG Wrightson Seeds hold market leadership positions in temperate regions for forage ryegrass, tall fescue, white clover, forage brassicas and herbs.

Novel endophytes for ryegrass and tall fescue, developed in partnership with AgResearch, have been a technological breakthrough for pastoral industries. Importantly, the grazing animal is fully integrated into our breeding effort. Our turf grasses dominate the browntop and ryegrass markets in Australasia.

The development of new forage products is the primary enhanced by primary research partnerships with AgResearch and Plant and Food Research in New Zealand and Australia. We also have R&D alliances in Uruguay, Australia, Argentina, Chile, USA, France and the Netherlands.

Other aspects of our research programme include the breeding and evaluation of arable crops such as wheat, barley, oats and triticale. Through a joint breeding programme with Heinz Watties and Plant and Food Research we also develop vining peas for the process market. Our discovery research also covers plant breeding, endophytes, biotechnology and seed treatments.

• Product evaluation under grazing systems
• Develop management and support packages for the Sales and Marketing Team
• Protect Intellectual Property – PVR and patents
• Produce nucleus seedstock for the Production Team
• Seed certification
• Maintain quantities of nucleus seed through production and storage in coldstore
• Contract services to agricultural chemical and seed companies