Nexgen’s fertile prospects reap $223,000 grant

THE State Government is supporting a start-up that’s developed plant-breeding technology that could make many of the world’s crops drought and virus resistant.

Nexgen Plants has received approval by US government regulators for its salt-tolerant rice variety, which is paving the way for the University of Queensland start-up to focus on creating commercial deals in the huge US market.

Nexgen completed projects with Syngenta, one of the world’s largest seed businesses.

Nexgen plans to use government funds to expand its partnerships to fast track the development of non-genetically modified crops with disease resistance traits.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the plight of Australian farmers battling the drought was a timely reminder of the importance of the work of companies like Nexgen in Queensland’s agtech sector.

“The technology developed by this Queensland company provides a potential solution for farmers to improve crop yields,” she said.

Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner said the government helped to fund research of the new technology through a $223,000 Ignite Ideas grant.

Nexgen Plants has so far worked with tomatoes, potatoes, sorghum and rice.

Its technologies can prevent crop viruses from wiping out the food supplies and crop-derived incomes worldwide.