AbacusBio signs deal with Bayer
DUNEDINFOUNDED agribusiness consulting company AbacusBio has announced a deal with global multinational company Bayer around predictive plant breeding.
It was all about finding better plants to bring to market through combining a ‘‘global powerhouse’’ with New Zealand innovation, Tim Byrne, who is managing director of AbacusBio’s UK operation, said this week.
Under the agreement, Bayer would incorporate AbacusBio’s expertise in trait prioritisation and valuation to advance products that anticipated grower and market needs.
AbacusBio’s technology could improve predictions that influenced trait improvement priorities, market segmentation and economic potential.
Dr Byrne, who is the project lead, acknowledged the partnership was a big deal for AbacusBio and said it was an exciting project, representing a new era in plant breeding.
One of the key factors that underpinned the success of genetic improvement programmes was balancing genetic gain across a combination of traits to meet production, quality and sustainability needs in the market.
‘‘This is why we’ll be working directly with scientists, commercial growers, seed retailers and other stakeholders across the supply chain. We want to bring their knowledge and experience with relevant traits to the fore, in building selection indexes for Bayer.’’
Two scientists had been employed to support the project and the partnership with Bayer was helping the company grow, Dr Byrne said.
He moved to Edinburgh in 2017 when the company opened an office there. At that stage, he was the only person in the office but it had now grown to six.
It was a brave move opening the office but it had paid off and it had aided the company to grow internationally. It had ‘‘heaps’’ of projects happening, including in Europe and Africa, he said.
The Bayer deal had also occurred during the Covid19 pandemic and it showed innovation could continue — and happen remotely — when people were unable to travel. It was also another step in ensuring sustainability of elements of food production.
Bayer had some ‘‘incredible’’ people working for it and there was an opportunity for the AbacusBio team to also learn from them, he said.