Nuseed and Barenbrug Australia have announced they have entered into a formal agreement for Barenbrug Australia to license Nuseed Australia’s sorghum and sunflower germplasm and conduct plant breeding, research and development and commercialisation services.

The collaboration aligns strongly with Barenbrug’s strategic objective of continuing to invest in agriculture in Northern Australia, which includes investing in infrastructure, capability and research and development. Barenbrug have recently made significant investments in capability and infrastructure evidenced by growing their team to 106 across its Australian locations as well as investing in its new state-of-the-art facility in Toowoomba, Queensland.

Starting July 1st, 2020, all Australian-based Nuseed grain sorghum, forage sorghum and sunflower plant breeding, R&D, sales and distribution will be licensed to Barenbrug. Australian growers will have access to the same Nuseed products, sold under the Barenbrug brand. The specifics of the agreement are private.

Barenbrug's Australian Managing Director Toby Brown commented that, "This agreement reinforces Barenbrug's commitment to investing in R&D in Australian agriculture. We have an extensive program focused on innovation in Australia, and we look forward to developing new products and tools for sorghum and sunflower growers. It represents an exciting next step following the recent opening of our new, state-of-the-art warehouse and seed-coating facility in Toowoomba as part of our ongoing investment in Northern Australia. Barenbrug looks forward to working with Nuseed to continue driving the breeding program forward, with the objective of providing new and existing hybrids to sorghum and sunflower growers.”

Nuseed and Barenbrug are committed to a smooth transition and continued collaboration through:

•    Uninterrupted supply of high-quality seed

•    Maximising Nuseed's global sorghum and sunflower germplasm to create advanced hybrids for Australian growers

•    Seamless continuation of breeding activities and transition of Nuseed's summer crop plant breeding capabilities to the Barenbrug team

•    Engaging with existing stakeholders from both organizations to ensure a smooth transition and service delivery

Barenbrug will continue to remain focused on being a global market leader in research and development, marketing, extension and distribution of proprietary pasture and forage seeds, cropping, turf and seed enhancement technology. In Australia, Barenbrug will continue to deliver innovations to growers and partners across a range of markets. This innovation is underpinned through a local research and development capability and supported by strong, customer focused commercial and operations teams