New Zealand’s newest plant technology company, Grasslanz, was officially launched today at the 65^th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Grassland Association in Palmerston North. 

The 400-delegate conference of key New Zealand agribusiness representatives provided a golden opportunity for Celentis – a commercial science company – to launch the newest addition to its stable of biotechnology companies, Grasslanz.

Grasslanz is a plant technology company which serves pastoral industries both here and overseas through development of proprietary forage cultivars, grass endophytes and applied biotechnology.

“We are very pleased to have this opportunity to launch the business in such esteemed pastoral company,” says new CEO and former President International of the US-based Delta and Pine Land Company, John Stewart.

Grasslanz Technology Limited will incorporate the existing business infrastructure and build on the success of the Cultivar Development and Management Unit (CDMU).  CDMU was previously the conduit between private seed companies and AgResearch, managing the licensing, seed supply and contract research activities relating to pastoral forage products.

John Stewart’s appointment coupled with the incorporation of Grasslanz as a standalone company will facilitate a sharpened commercial focus for the business.   Grasslanz will replace CDMU as the primary vehicle for commercialising AgResearch plant technologies.

“We will be looking to grow the business through expansion in domestic and international markets, technology and business partnerships and more innovative biotechnology,” Mr. Stewart said.

Grasslands™ branded forage plants have been bred for the New Zealand pastoral industry for over 65 years and there are currently more than 80 proprietary cultivars on the market here for use in forage, turf and soil conservation.  Grasslands™ white clover cultivars hold No.1 market position in the world.  

As well as Grasslands™ branded products, Grasslanz also licenses AgResearch grass endophytes AR1, MaxQ™ and MaxP™. Endophytes are fungi that live inside grass and improve plant performance but can cause animal health problems. Development of the AR1 ryegrass endophyte addressed these animal health problems and is estimated to have resulted in additional returns to farmers in New Zealand of NZ$12m in its first two years of release.

Mr Stewart said the incorporation of Grasslanz will bring greater focus and investment in pastoral technologies such as improved cultivars and grass endophytes that enhance animal performance and health, while reducing the industry’s impact on the environment.

Grasslanz also conducts collaborative R & D projects with other parties, managing each project from inception to client delivery, including production of high quality nucleus seed, inoculation of endophytes, agronomic and animal testing and Intellectual Property protection of proprietary products.

Key licensees and marketing agents of Grasslanz include Agricom (New Zealand) Ltd, Wrightson Seeds Limited, New Zealand Agriseeds Limited, PGG Seeds Limited, Cropmark Seeds Limited, H.L. Rosevear and Co Limited, Marsden Ryegrass Growers Society Inc, Cocksfoot Growers Association, Midlands Seed Limited, Peter Cates Ltd. Grasslanz also services clients in Australia, the US, Europe and South America.

Celentis is owned by AgResearch.  In addition to working with other technology providers, Celentis also markets and manages AgResearch technologies.  Celentis draws on decades of experience and the expertise of over 600 scientists through its parent company.