Research & Development
PGG Wrightson Seeds’ research programmes are focused on developing new forage and turf products that enhance our customers productivity and profitability.
We are world leaders in delivering forage innovations to our farmer customers. PGG Wrightson Seeds hold market leadership positions in temperate regions for forage ryegrass, tall fescue, white clover, forage brassicas and herbs. We also have developed forages with strong environmental benefits.
Novel endophytes for ryegrass and tall fescue, developed in partnership with AgResearch, have been a technological breakthrough for pastoral industries. Importantly, the grazing animal is fully integrated into our breeding effort. Our turf grasses dominate the browntop and ryegrass markets in Oceania. In addition we:
- Evaluate new products under grazing
- Develop management and support packages for the Sales and Marketing Team
- Protect Intellectual Property – PVR and patents
- Produce high-grade seed for the production team
- Seed certification and PVR descriptions
- Contract services to international agricultural chemical and seed companies
The development of new forage products is enhanced by primary research partnerships with AgResearch and Plant and Food Research in New Zealand and with University of Western Australia in Australia. We also have R&D alliances in Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, USA, and Europe.
Other aspects of our research programme include the breeding and evaluation of arable crops such as wheat, barley, oats and triticale. Through a joint breeding programme with Heinz Watties and Plant and Food Research we also develop vining peas for the process market. Our discovery research also covers plant breeding, endophytes, biotechnology, precision agriculture and seed treatment innovations.
