Graham Brown: Haha, well fortunately I have some very capable colleagues at both.

 

Actually it’s a match made in Heaven. With the help of the extra resources and commercial focus that Abundant brings to the table, the Plant Breeding Institute was able to expand into new areas of research, and attract and equip more students and researchers. 

 

From Abundant’s point of view, the advantages are at least as great.

 

In international science and research circles, Australia has a great reputation for its plant science and agricultural knowledge.

 

International consumers also see Australia as a safe, ‘clean and green’ food producer, perfectly placed geographically to feed the growing Asian middle class demand for fresh fruits and vegetables. In China particularly, Australian food is in great demand. The Australian brand represents food safety and healthiness.

 

After the Second World War Australia developed a tradition for breeding  vegetable crops suited to local conditions. But in the eighties and nineties, our breeders were bought by European multinationals with deep pockets . The problem is, the breeding tends to focus on Central European conditions.

 

That’s where Sydney University comes in. It has extensive greenhouse and laboratory resources and, of course, world class scientists. The cost for Abundant to replicate all of these resources would be prohibitive, not to mention wasteful. Instead Abundant has access to cutting-edge resources at a cost that allows us to compete with big overseas breeders.

 

QQA: What about cultural clashes between the academic institution and the commercial enterprise?

 

Graham Brown: These days universities are commercial enterprises, and Sydney University’s Plant Breeding Institute has a long tradition of working with business, so it’s something of a leader in that regard. 

 

In fact, Sydney University’s involvement in cereal rust research and wheat breeding (a fungus that damages cereal plants, including wheat) dates back to the 1920s. These days, the Institute’s rust research group is one of the largest in the world and it’s primarily funded by the grains industry. Rust resistance saves Australian grain growers hundreds of millions of dollars each year – so this is a valuable commercial partnership.

 

QQA: It sounds like this approach – a university working closely with a commercial enterprise – ties in with Australia’s increasing emphasis on innovation.

 

Graham Brown: Certainly. Modern research & innovation projects are regularly funded by a raft of arrangements including internal university funding; research contracts and co-operative arrangements with businesses; and competitive grants from Government agencies.

 

QQA: Does Abundant Produce access government grants and concessions to help fund it’s research?

 

Graham Brown: We certainly do. The result is a true win/win – a new area of research for the University, onshore innovation and employment for the Australian taxpayer, and a very competitive R&D cost base for Abundant’s shareholders.