Faster forage gains promised

The move has been welcomed by AgResearch which lobbied MPI to make the rule change on the grounds it will accelerate forage cultivar development.

"It will enable researchers and plant breeders to gain quicker and less expensive access to germplasm, but still ensure a rigorous level of biosecurity is maintained," says Zane Webber of the Margot Forde Germplasm Centre, who led the negotiations for AgResearch.
"It reduces the upfront financial costs and time involved in using material from the Centre, and will break down what has, up until now, been a major barrier to exploratory research."

Webber says the Centre is not a museum of seeds but an active collection, and the rule change means it can be used at such.
"We now have regulations that ensure a good level of access for people that need it while mitigating the risks."

Seed can only be released to bona fide researchers and plant breeders who sign an agreement to undertake monitoring and documentation of the plants derived from the seed, and to report any anything unusual.

"Ensuring researchers have continued access to these seeds is critical as the New Zealand pastoral sector, and therefore a major part of our economy, is wholly reliant on them," says Webber.

MPI standards spokesperson Kathryn Hurr says the new regulations strike the right balance between enabling critical research and maintaining high levels of biosecurity.

"This project is a real win–win. Breeders now have faster access to this amazing collection of seeds which they can evaluate, looking for those new traits that will help keep our pastoral industries at the top of their game."