The drive to maintain New Zealand’s crucial efficiency advantage in dairying is about to be stepped up.
The dairy industry’s bio-technology company ViaLactia Bioscences and HortResearch have established an ongoing research
collaboration to improve the quality of New Zealand’s pasture species using technology which will greatly improve
understanding of pasture plants characteristics and thereby enable much faster breeding of superior strains.
As part of a large programme to discover genes and their functions, ViaLactia Biosciences and HortResearch are jointly
establishing a significant state-of-the-art microarray facility in Auckland. This will use internationally competitive
technology to allow a deeper understanding of the natural interactions of genes within the forage plants essential to
dairy-based agriculture. The partnership will increase the understanding of the range of characteristics found naturally
in these economically important plants.
HortResearch’s, CEO, Dr Ian Warrington, said: "We are delighted to be entering into this collaboration with ViaLactia.
HortResearch brings considerable knowledge and expertise in plant physiology and genomics. This collaboration confirms
the benefits of Government investment in Crown Research Institutes to build research capability. We are now applying our
research skills in strong relationships with New Zealand-based companies.
“The synergies achieved through working in partnership with ViaLactia will also advance our genetic studies into
horticultural crops for New Zealand’s benefit.”
ViaLactia Biosciences Managing Director, Dr Kevin Marshall, said the collaboration with HortResearch will assist his
company achieve its mission to employ the latest scientific knowledge and technological developments to the benefit of
New Zealand. "Improvements to forage plants will make a positive economic impact in the New Zealand Dairy and other
pasture based industries.
“The collaboration with HortResearch represents one of the platforms we are building to deliver benefits to New Zealand
farmers and the necessary skills to expand our existing forage research programme in this direction exist within one of
New Zealand's own research companies.”
Based in Auckland, ViaLactia Biosciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of the New Zealand Dairy Board, is a leading player
in the global development and marketing of biotechnology based products, services and technologies for the dairy
industry. More information on ViaLactia Biosciences can be found at www.vialactia.com
HortResearch, New Zealand’s leading horticultural research company is at the forefront of advanced technology in plant
genomics and is strongly positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that biotechnology will provide. Find out
more about HortResearch at www.hortresearach.co.nz
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