Australian farmers ‘first in the world’ to access new herbicide-resistant system for grass weeds in barley

Australian farmers are set to be the first in the world to access a new group one herbicide for grass weeds as part of a production system flagged to “change how barley is grown”. Australian Grain Technologies, Sipcam and Albaugh LLC this week announced a three-way partnership to deliver the CoAXium Production System and give farmers a new tool in the form of group one herbicide Aggressor. The arrangement will provide an Australian-owned and developed non-GMO herbicide tolerant trait for expanded grassy weed control options in barley, with the first CoAXium variety expected to be released by AGT next year. AGT science and business development head Tristan Coram said the three companies were proud Australian growers would be the first in the world to take advantage of the system. “To bring this technology to market we searched for partners that understood Australian conditions and had a track record of delivering new technologies to growers,” he said. “This partnership will ensure growers receive the full benefit of CoAXium Production System for barley while also protecting the technology through industry stewardship.” AGT is Australia’s biggest plant breeding company and has been developing barley genetics since 2014, recently releasing commercial varieties Beast, Cyclops, Minotaur and Yeti. The AGT team is incorporating the CoAXium trait into its barley genetics and expect to make the first CoAXium barley variety available to growers for the 2023 season. Sipcam, a leading supplier of crop protection and nutrition products to Australian farmers, will provide sales and technical support for Aggressor and the CoAXium Production System. Barley growers will be able to use a new tool, Group 1 herbicide Aggressor, to control difficult grass weeds including Brome grass, barley grass, wild oats and susceptible annual ryegrass. Albaugh North America president Douglas Kaye said it marked its maiden entry into the Australian market while expanding the global footprint of the CoAXium Production System. Albaugh is a privately-owned US limited liability company offering crop protection products and innovation throughout the world. “We are excited for the value the partnership will bring to Australian growers,” Mr Kaye said. “Albaugh’s innovation platform is focused on strategic partnerships to identify technologies around the globe to provide performance and value to growers. “We look forward to bringing more innovative technology to Australian growers in the near future.” Aggressor herbicide brands have been developed using a 30-year-old active ingredient that through innovation gives barley growers a new tool. Sipcam Australia marketing and operations manager Richard Branson said the pending introduction of the system could change how barley is grown in Australia. “This system provides new weed control options for barley growers using non-GMO pathways,” he said. “There is so much more to CoAXium than just an herbicide and a herbicide-tolerant barley variety. “In effect, it’s a whole new production system that has major ramifications for the entire cropping program, which is why CoAXium will be fully supported by a stewardship program developed by Sipcam.” Mr Branson said the program would involve “all aspects” of growing herbicide-tolerant barley, including the use of Aggressor herbicide, rotation implications, herbicide resistance strategies and integrated weed control.