S&W Seed Company's recent acquisition of Australian agribusiness operation Pasture Genetics is the company's fourth in the past six years, and includes the purchase of three other Australian innovators in seed genetics.
International executive vice-president for S&W Seed Company, David Callachor said the deal was extremely good news for Australian farmers.
"We are actively developing our business in Australia to expand the range of solutions we offer to local and global agriculturalists," Mr Callachor said.
"Primary production is pivotal for Australia's economy, and Australia is a very important player in this space globally. This country has unique challenges and requirements and we are focusing hard on those needs," he said.
"We see the strategic fit between S&W and Pasture Genetics as enabling us to deliver further power to Australian farmers who want to succeed in today's challenging environment.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to invest further in Australian farming."
S&W Seed Company operates significant research and development operations, breeding and marketing a broad range of proprietary agricultural seed including grain and forage sorghums, lucerne, and sunflower varieties in more than 35 countries. The company also develops and markets a range of quality wheat varieties for Australian farmers.
Pasture Genetics is a significant 23-year-old family-owned agricultural seed sales business based in Wingfield South Australia. Founded in 1997 by Rob and Ann Damin, it employs a staff of 30. The business specialises in pasture seed variety sales across Australia and in selected offshore markets.
The whole of the Pasture Genetics business, seed portfolio and Pasture Genetics' Goldstrike seed treatment product are included in the deal with S&W Seed Company.
Mr Callachor and Mr Damin said in a joint statement that it would be "business as usual" throughout integration and transition.
"There is such alignment between the business units that the strengths of one really connect with the other," Mr Callachor said.
He said Pasture Genetics will be fully integrated into the S&W Seed Company business unit for maximum benefit to market moving forward.
"This acquisition is about growth and expansion of opportunity.
"Plans for the integration are designed to ensure that the core strengths of both businesses are captured and nurtured for future success.
"For the future, customers can look forward to even more premium-quality agricultural seed solutions from us, developed specifically with local on-farm challenges and global agribusiness opportunities in mind.
"The investment in Pasture Genetics is about expansion of domestic operations.
"It demonstrates deep strategic further investment in the Australian agricultural space.
"S&W have built the business footprint in Australia as its key hub to the international space, with some strategic acquisitions of which Pasture Genetics is today's gateway to offering full service to domestic agricultural operators.
"This investment is about growing a new and substantial Australian operation to new levels.
"A new expanded presence with a new facility in Toowoomba is currently being planned for 2020."
Mr Callachor said the changes were currently rolling out.
"Teams are working hard now to integrate the Pasture Genetics operation," he said. "In coming months expect to see the process completed.
"Farmers will have access to new and further seed options across Australia through this expanded company presence in all key cropping and livestock regions."
Looking further ahead, Mr Callachor said he believes Australian agriculture has a very important role to play on the international stage.
"S&W is very optimistic about global agriculture, Australia's importance in the global agricultural marketplace, and the opportunities for all in this industry in bringing top quality solutions to the growing populations of the world," he said.
"Australia is a key market and area of focus for S&W and we are very confident that the agricultural market is an area of growth due to its geographic location and access to key markets."
He said he also believes the demands on seeds from farmers will continue to evolve.
"Farmers will continue to look for quality," Mr Callachor said.
"They will want the newest, best, latest germplasm that performs, produces, solves problems and works hard.
"They will want elite seed genetics that can perform under extremely diverse and challenging Australian climatic conditions.
"It usually requires a balance of yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance and in some instances pest resistance or high levels of tolerance. It is not easy to deliver everything in one package, but that will always be our goal.
"The S&W product range is crafted to solve the farming problems of all Australian farmers.
The S&W product range is crafted to solve the farming problems of all Australian farmers. Our aim is to be able to offer every Australian farmer a solution to their seed requirements at any time of year.
- International executive vice-president, S&W Seed Company, David Callachor.
"Our aim is to be able to offer every Australian farmer a solution to their seed requirements at any time of year."
Founded in 1980, S&W Seed Company is a global agricultural seed specialist. In Australia, which is headquarters for S&W's International Division, operations are located in Adelaide and Keith, SA, Tamworth, New South Wales, and Toowoomba, Queensland.
- Visit: www.swseedco.com.au
