The Pastoral Genomics' (PG) pasture improvement programme is running on track. There are no delays in milestone achievements. There are no perceived problems in the foreseeable future. The major achievement for 2004/05 was the integration of ViaLactia's ryegrass programme with PG's existing clover programme.
PG is the sole investment by the New Zealand pastoral industries into forage improvement through biotechnology.
Our Meat, Dairy, Wool and Deer industries rely on productive pasture for their international low-cost and high-quality positions.
Biotechnology will give the greatest stepwise and sustainable improvement in pasture productivity. We will use our in-depth knowledge of pasture genomes to enhance conventional breeding. And we will use ryegrass genes in ryegrass, clover genes in clover to capture the untapped genetic potential in pasture plants.
PG is funded by Meat and Wool NZ, Fonterra, AgResearch, Deer Industry NZ, and FRST.
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