Australian Grain Technologies

What Australian Grain Technologies does

Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) is Australia's largest plant breeding company and the market leader in wheat genetics. The company develops new field crop varieties through an intensive multi-year process of inter-crossing, field and laboratory experimentation, data collection and analysis, and genetic selection. AGT breeds across wheat, barley, canola, durum, lupin, triticale, and, as of 2026, chickpea, supported by four regionally-based breeding stations (Roseworthy SA, Narrabri NSW, Northam WA, Wagga Wagga NSW) and 60 unique trial sites covering the major grain-growing regions of Australia.

The company creates approximately 1 million new genetic combinations per year, collects and analyses roughly 600,000 data points annually, and tests around 380,000 yield plots per season. Its R&D stack integrates genomic selection, drone and aerial imaging for high-throughput phenotyping, and bioinformatics, with affiliated researchers positioned across the University of Adelaide, University of Sydney, Charles Sturt University, and Curtin University. Notable outputs include world-first dual herbicide-tolerant barley (AGT-Bunyip IA combining ImiTol and CoAxium), high-yielding wheat lines (Sundancer, Leverage, AGT-Carnac, AGT-Hamelin), durum varieties (AGT-Rimfire, AGT-Banker), and open-pollinated triazine-tolerant canola (AGT-Insurgent TT).

AGT generates revenue through End Point Royalties (EPR) collected on commercial grain production of its Plant Breeders Rights-protected varieties. The company does not sell seed directly to growers; instead, seed production and distribution is handled through the AGT Affiliates network of professional seed growers and processors (including Booleroo Centre Seeds, Hart Bros Seeds, Australian Seed & Grain, AGF Seeds, and Deacon Seeds) and through agricultural retail stores. Trademarks include the AGT Grower Portal and the Seed Sharing farmer-to-farmer seed trading scheme. Customers are Australian broad-acre grain producing enterprises (approximately 25,000 enterprises farming 21 million hectares, contributing $9 billion in gross production value). Over 30% of Australia's field crop hectares are sown each year to AGT-bred varieties.

Name

Australian Grain Technologies

Legal name

Australian Grain Technologies Pty Limited

Website

https://agtbreeding.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Australian Grain Technologies is Australia's largest plant breeding company, developing wheat, barley, canola, durum, lupin, triticale, and chickpea varieties from four regional breeding stations and earning revenue via End Point Royalties on commercial grain production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Plant Breeding & Crop Genetics

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111), Wheat Farming (11114)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cereal & Grain Seeds (Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye) (AFABAFAB), Grain Seed Production (Cereal Seed Multiplication) (AFAGAAAI), Seed Distribution & Wholesale (Channel Sales) (AFAGAIAM)

Keywords

• Plant breeding services
• Crop variety development
• Wheat genetics
• Cereal breeding
• Agricultural seed varieties

Headquarters

HQ city

Roseworthy

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. End Point Royalties (EPR): AGT earns revenue through End Point Royalties on all production of their protected varieties (except seed saved for planting). Each variety has a specified EPR rate per tonne.
2. Seed Production and Distribution: Seed production and distribution of AGT varieties is managed through AGT Affiliates. AGT does not sell seed direct to growers and does not earn income from the sale of seed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Australian Grain Technologies develops and commercializes new field crop varieties, including wheat, barley, canola, durum, lupin, triticale and chickpea, through an intensive multi-year plant breeding program involving inter-crossing, field and laboratory experimentation, and genetic selection. The company creates 1 million new genetic combinations each year, analyses 600,000 data points, and tests 380,000 yield plots per season across four regionally based breeding stations and 60 trial sites in Australia. AGT does not sell seed directly; instead it earns revenue through End Point Royalties (EPR) on commercial grain production of its protected varieties, with distribution handled through a network of AGT Affiliates and agricultural retail stores.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AGT-Insurgent TT Canola Variety Triazine tolerant (TT) open pollinated canola variety bred for Australian broad-acre growers, delivering hybrid-comparable yields, high oil content, and reduced up-front seed cost versus hybrid alternatives. Protected by Plant Breeders Rights.
• AGT-Bunyip IA Barley Variety World-first dual herbicide tolerant barley variety combining ImiTol and CoAxium technologies, offering Australian barley growers flexibility in managing herbicide carry-over and controlling grass weeds. Developed by AGT Barley Breeder Paul Telfer.
• Sundancer Wheat Variety APH quality wheat variety for northern NSW and Queensland growers, a direct replacement for LRPB Lancer delivering over 15% more grain yield in NVT trials and beating LRPB Lancer in 36 out of 39 trials with average 13% yield improvement over 5 years. Developed by Wheat Breeder Meiqin Lu at AGT's Northern Crop Breeding Centre.
• Leverage Wheat Variety APH quality wheat variety for northern NSW and Queensland, positioned as a successor to EGA Gregory type varieties and outperforming them by more than 10% in yield. Developed by AGT's Northern Crop Breeding Centre.
• AGT-Carnac Wheat Variety ANW quality udon noodle wheat variety developed at AGT's Western Crop Breeding Centre in Northam, delivering 6% higher yields than Zen in sub 2 tonne per hectare NVT trials and tailored for Western Australian broad-acre growers. Developed by Soft Wheat Breeder Usman Ijaz.
• AGT-Hamelin Wheat Variety AH quality wheat variety with mid-slow maturity suited to early and main season sowings, developed at AGT's Western Crop Breeding Centre in Northam for Western Australian broad-acre growers. Developed by Wheat Breeder Dion Bennett.
• AGT-Banker Durum Variety Durum wheat variety with ADR quality classification, bred as a replacement for Bitalli and DBA-Aurora in southern Australian durum-growing regions.
• AGT-Rimfire Durum Variety Durum wheat variety developed as an updated alternative to DBA Vittaroi for irrigated production systems in southern NSW. Developed by Durum Breeder Tom Kapcejevs.
• Seed Sharing Program Licensed farmer-to-farmer trading scheme enabling trade of eligible AGT variety grain between farmers for use as seed, managed through the AGT Grower Portal. Allows growers to legally trade grain of selected AGT varieties for seeding purposes under AGT's PBR framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sundancer delivered over 15% more grain yield than LRPB Lancer in NSW and Queensland NVT trials
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGT partners with GRDC for research and development funding. GRDC led the competitive tender process that awarded AGT the national chickpea breeding program. GRDC provides financial support through grain grower levies.
• University of AdelaidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGT staff members are affiliated with the university providing teaching, mentoring and project supervision. Currently leases land at University of Adelaide's Roseworthy Campus farm.
• University of SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGT staff member Dr Meiqin Lu is affiliated with University of Sydney. The Narrabri breeding centre operates at the University of Sydney Plant Breeding Institute.
• Charles Sturt UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGT staff member Dr Russell Eastwood is affiliated with Charles Sturt University for student supervision.
• Curtin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in plant science and breeding research collaboration.
• Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in plant functional genomics research.
• South Australian Research & Development Institute (SARDI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in agricultural science and development.
• Limagrain HoldingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partner in plant breeding and genetics.
• Liebe GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWA grower group sponsored by AGT for research and extension activities.
• Facey GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWA grower group sponsored by AGT for research and extension activities.
• Mingenew-Irwin Group (MIG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWA grower group sponsored by AGT for research and extension activities.
• Birchip Cropping Group (BCG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIC grower group sponsored by AGT for research and extension activities.
• Southern Farming Systems (SFS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIC grower group sponsored by AGT for research and extension activities.
• NSW DPIRDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGT was awarded the national chickpea breeding program previously led by NSW DPIRD. Transition of breeding leadership from NSW DPIRD to AGT following GRDC tender process.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nuseed: Nuseed develops and commercializes proprietary field-crop seed and trait technologies, including canola and other broad-acre crops. It overlaps with AGT in seed genetics, grower adoption and trait-led crop improvement.
• Pacific Seeds: Pacific Seeds supplies and develops broad-acre crop seed for Australian growers, including canola, sorghum and other field crops. It is comparable through its seed genetics, agronomic support and farmer-channel commercialization model.
• Seednet: Seednet is an Australian seed commercialization and marketing business focused on broad-acre crop varieties. It is comparable to AGT through its grower-facing seed variety portfolio and distribution into Australian grain-growing regions, though it is less purely a breeding platform.
• LongReach Plant Breeders: LongReach Plant Breeders develops Australian wheat varieties, including benchmark varieties referenced in AGT trial comparisons such as LRPB Lancer. It is a direct peer in wheat genetics and grower-facing varietal improvement.
• InterGrain: InterGrain is an Australian cereal breeding company developing wheat, barley and oat varieties for local growers. It is highly comparable to AGT because both commercialize regionally adapted grain genetics into the Australian broad-acre market.

Broad incumbents

• Corteva Agriscience: Corteva Agriscience offers seed genetics, traits and crop-protection products globally through brands such as Pioneer. It is comparable as a major crop-genetics incumbent, although its portfolio is far broader than AGT's Australian plant-breeding focus.
• S&W Seed Company: S&W Seed Company is a global proprietary seed company with operations in Australia and field-crop seed categories such as forage, sorghum and other specialty crops. It is comparable as a seed genetics and commercialization platform serving agricultural producers.
• KWS: KWS is a global seed company focused on plant breeding and crop genetics across cereals, corn, oilseeds and other crops. It is comparable through large-scale breeding technology and variety commercialization, but operates as a much broader international incumbent.
• Limagrain: Limagrain is a global farmer-owned seed and plant-breeding group with field seed, cereal and oilseed breeding capabilities. It is comparable as a broad incumbent in crop genetics, though AGT is more focused on Australian grain varieties.

Regional players

• RAGT Seeds: RAGT Seeds is a European plant breeder and seed company active in cereals, oilseeds and forage crops. It is comparable in crop-breeding specialization but is primarily relevant as a regional analogue rather than an Australian direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/agtbreeding
• Facebookfacebook.com/agtbreeding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-grain-technologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Grain Technologies