07/09/2023 |
AgResearch Moves to Develop Conventional Ryegrass Breeding Techniques. |
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AgResearch is the key research partner in a consortium of Agribusinesses who have been funded $8.4 million dollars over seven years to select, identify and conventionally breed the best heat-tolerant ryegrass varieties growing in New Zealand. The programme will use marker assisted selection (MAS), and will not include genetic engineering technologies. Dr Marty Faville from AgResearch, will be be leading the programme and Barenbrug NZ and PGG Wrightson Seeds will implement the research findings. The consortium includes; the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures); Barenbrug NZ, Grasslands Innovation Limited (a joint venture of which PGG Wrightson Seeds is a major shareholder). DairyNZ will contribute the balance in cash and in-kind. GE Free NZ contacted Dr Faville who confirmed that - “This project does not use genetic modification or gene editing at all, relying instead on the efficient identification and capture of genetic variation that occurs naturally within NZ-adapted ryegrass populations.” “It is pleasing that AgResearch research into ryegrass varieties using marker assisted breeding for seed selection will not include any genetically engineered technologies.” said Claire Bleakley president of GE Free NZ. New Zealand currently has high performance climate smart pasture grasses and legumes on the market and non-GE biotech products that can be used for reducing the challenges of climate extremes that have shown optimal animal health and environmental benefits. [2], [3] Martin, G. et al (2020) metanalysis research reported that traditional mixed ley pastures have important agro ecological impacts and are climate resilient, store carbon, protect soil moisture loss, reduce phosphorous and nitrogen leaching, thereby increasing animal health.[4] In 2018, AgResearch received over $25 million from Dairy NZ and the Ministry Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for GE ryegrass field trials that were carried out in the US. These GE Rye grass field trials grew poorly, with no apparent benefits over conventionally-bred ryegrass varieties already grown successfully in New Zealand. In 2023, AgResearch applied to the Australian Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) to conduct further GE ryegrass trials, but then withdrew their application. [5]
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