The Callaghan Innovation R&D Growth Grants will provide a further $21 million for a range of hi-tech businesses to help with research.
If those grants could be applied to the seed sector it could reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as a high-quality, world-class food producer, Plant Breeding and Research Association general manager Thomas Chin said.
Research and development was crucial to the industry providing improved seed offering pasture and cereal crops protection against insect pests, disease, and drought, he said.
That would help farms lift productivity and yields.
“We are hi-tech businesses,” he said.
The Growth Grants were introduced in last year’s Budget and so far this year about 60 businesses have been approved for grants totalling $220m over three years.
Each grant covers 20% of research and development spending for qualifying companies.
While welcoming the grants, Chin said NZ needed stronger protective legislation for intellectual property relating to plant varieties.
The existing legislation was 27 years old and risked stifling innovation and investment, he said.
