Joint venture to strengthen cotton breeding

CSIRO Plant Industry and Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD) today announced the Cotton Breeding Australia joint venture, to fund cotton breeding and targeted research for a 10-year initial term.

Both parties will contribute $2 million per annum for research, with CSD also co-funding the cotton breeding work previously co-funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC).

The first stage of Cotton Breeding Australia has already commenced, with CSD funding the addition of a new breeder to CSIRO’s Narrabri breeding team.

“Cotton Breeding Australia will see an increase in investment in cotton breeding and research, of approximately $40 million over the ten year period” says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief Dr Jeremy Burdon.

“It’s a great example of the RDC model developing research to a point where it can be more directly funded by industry without additional grower levy or government funding.”

CSD is a grower based company and has worked with CSIRO Plant Industry since the 1980s to develop and deliver high quality cotton varieties for the industry.

“The company has reached a point where it’s able to reinvest into cotton specific projects and research,” says CSD Managing Director Peter Graham.

“Cotton Breeding Australia will strengthen the long and effective partnership between CSD and CSIRO. CSIRO-bred cotton varieties are world-leading, and the increased research spend this initiative will introduce, will keep them there,” he says.

CSIRO and CSD recognise the very important contribution that CRDC and ACGRA have made to the Australian cotton breeding program to date, and look forward to the continuation of this contribution.

CSIRO-bred cotton varieties currently represent over 90 per cent of the Australian market and are well represented around the world.

Key areas for the breeding and research program include yield/quality improvements, drought and climate change tolerance, water use efficiency and disease tolerance.

CSD will also be funding additional capital expenditure to ensure that the increased breeding and research work has adequate resources to effectively bring the outcomes to the market.

Further Information: Dr Jeremy Burdon, Chief, CSIRO Plant Industry 02 6246 5546 jeremy.burdon@csiro.au

Mr Peter Graham, Managing Director, CSD Ltd 02 6795 0000 pgraham@csd.net.au

Media Assistance: Tony Steeper, CSIRO Plant Industry 02 6246 5323 tony.steeper@csiro.au