• A strategic partnership between Australian Grain Technologies (AGT), Sipcam and Albaugh, LLC has been established to deliver the CoAXium® Production System for Australian broadacre barley growers
• The CoAXium Production System provides a new tool (Group 1 herbicide - Aggressor®) for control of difficult grass weeds like brome grass, barley grass, wild oats and susceptible annual ryegrass
• This new barley production system is based on a non-GMO herbicide tolerance trait for expanded grassy weed control

The partnership between Australian Grain Technologies (AGT), farm chemical supplier Sipcam Australia and global crop protection company Albaugh, LLC, will establish the CoAXium Production System for Barley, which is based on the Albaugh Aggressor® brand Group 1 herbicide and non-GMO herbicide tolerant barley germplasm developed locally by AGT. Sipcam Australia will manage Aggressor® distribution and provide industry stewardship for the CoAXium system.

AGT Head of Science & Business Development Dr Tristan Coram says AGT is excited to bring this locally discovered technology to Australian barley growers.

“We are especially proud that Australian growers will be the first in the world to take advantage of the CoAXium Production System for Barley,” he says.

AGT has been developing barley genetics since 2014 and has already released the commercial varieties Beast, Cyclops, Minotaur and Yeti. The AGT team is now actively incorporating the CoAXium trait into elite genetics and expects to make the first CoAXium barley available to growers for the 2023 season.

“AGT searched for partners who understood Australian conditions and had a track record of delivering new technologies to growers so we could bring this new technology to market,” Dr Coram says.

“Our three-way partnership with Sipcam and Albaugh will ensure growers receive the full benefit of the CoAXium Production System, while also protecting the technology through good industry stewardship.”

Sipcam Australia Marketing and Operations Manager Richard Branson says the pending introduction of the CoAXium Production System for Barley has the potential to change how barley is grown in Australia.

“There is lot more to CoAXium than a non-GMO herbicide-tolerant barley variety,” he says.

“It’s a whole new production system that can change the entire cropping program, which is why CoAXium will be fully supported by a stewardship program developed by Sipcam.”

“The new program will involve all aspects of growing herbicide-tolerant barley, including the use of Aggressor® herbicide, rotation implications, herbicide resistance strategies and integrated weed control.”

Sipcam is a leading supplier of crop protection and nutrition products to Australian farmers and will provide sales and technical support for Aggressor® herbicide and the CoAXium Production System.

Albaugh North America President Douglas Kaye says the company is excited about the value the new partnership will bring to Australian barley growers.

“The CoAXium platform represents Albaugh’s initial exposure to Australia and we look forward to bringing more innovative technologies to Australian growers in the near future,” he says.

Albaugh Global Director of Innovation Platform Technologies Chad Shelton says the partnership represents the backbone of Albaugh’s Innovation Platform, which focuses on strategic partnerships to deliver unique and novel technologies around the globe.

“Our Aggressor® herbicide brands have been developed using a proven active ingredient that now offers growers a new tool for addressing grassy weeds in their barley rotations,” he says.

• About AGT

Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) is Australia's largest plant breeding company, breeding improved wheat, barley, durum, lupin and canola varieties for Australian farmers. At AGT, we consider ourselves privileged to be able to serve Australian farmers and the world’s population by developing new field crop varieties that are more productive, better quality and cost less to grow. This is what drives our people. We want to see Australian farmers more prosperous, and the global population to be well nourished. A world-class breeding & research company, AGT are excited by new technology, innovation and scientific breakthroughs. Seeing scientific concepts transformed into real solutions that deliver to Australian grain growers is the inspiration behind AGT’s success.

Contact:
Tristan Coram, Head of Science & Business Development | tristan.coram@agtbreeding.com.au | +61499799646

• About SIPCAM
  

Established in Italy in 1946, Sipcam’s mission has been to create a link between global chemical research and the needs of farmers. Sipcam Australia commenced operations in Australia in 1997 and a strong focus on innovation remains fundamental to the company’s business philosophy. Today Sipcam Australia is part of Sipcam Oxon Group. Sipcam Oxon is a global player developing and distributing an Agrochemical, Biorational and Nutritional portfolio, operating synthesis and formulation Plants in Italia, Spain, Brazil, and China. Sipcam Oxon continues to invest in the development of people, new chemistry, bio solutions and brands. Much of the Sipcam product range is under patent or data protected.

Contact:
Richard Branson, Business Manager | rbranson@sipcam.com.au | + 0407 537 219

• About Albaugh

Albaugh, LLC is a privately-owned US limited liability company founded by Mr. Dennis Albaugh in 1979. Headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Albaugh offers a broad and growing portfolio of crop protection products and innovation throughout the world. Albaugh operates multi-functional plant sites in the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Slovenia, China, Taiwan and India.

Contact:
Chad W. Shelton, Global Director, Innovation Platform | chads@albaughllc.com
| (509) 385-4140