What Grasslanz Technology Ltd. does

Grasslanz Technology Limited is a New Zealand-based plant and microbial technology development and commercialisation company established in 2003 as a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of AgResearch, the Crown Research Institute. The company focuses on Epichloë fungal endophyte technologies for ryegrass and tall fescue, including the proprietary AR37 and AR1 strains that deliver insect-pest resistance across five of six major NZ pasture pests while reducing animal health issues such as ryegrass staggers. Its pipeline also includes AGR96X, a Serratia proteamaculans biopesticide targeting grass grub and Manuka beetle, currently under ACVM regulatory review. Grasslanz operates three joint ventures: Grasslands Innovation Ltd (with PGG Wrightson Seeds, over 40 forage cultivars released since 2007), Endophyte Innovation (with PGG Wrightson Seeds and AgResearch, developing next-generation endophytes), and MI8 Optics Ltd (with Massey Ventures, commercialising hyperspectral endophyte-viability detection). The company operates with 19 employees across Palmerston North (HQ), Lincoln (AgResearch campus), and an Australian office.

The company's business model is a pure licensing and IP commercialisation model: technologies are transferred to industry through seed-company partners (PGG Wrightson Seeds, Barenbrug, Cropmark Seeds, DLF, Germinal, Agricom and others) who manufacture and market endophyte-containing seed to farmers in NZ, Australia and internationally. Grasslanz itself does not sell directly to end customers. Revenue is generated through licensing agreements and royalties from commercialised cultivars, supplemented by joint-venture economics from Grasslands Innovation, Endophyte Innovation and MI8 Optics. The AR37 endophyte has been independently estimated by ACIL Allen Consulting to contribute NZ$3.6 billion to the NZ economy over its 20-year IP life, and novel endophytes reached 80% of NZ ryegrass seed sales within seven years of market introduction. Grasslanz serves primarily dairy, sheep and beef farmers through its licensed seed-company network, and its customers include both New Zealand SMB farmers and international counterparts in Australia and the US.

Grasslanz is governed by a board chaired by Ian Boddy with directors Stu Hall and Libby Harrison, and was led for 19 years by Dr John Caradus until the March 2025 CEO transition to Megan Skiffington, with Caradus moving to Chief Technology Officer. The company has received the 2025 Science New Zealand Awards Supreme Winner recognition and the NZ$500,000 Prime Minister's Science Prize (May 2025), and is positioned within the New Zealand Government's announced reform of the Crown Research Institute system into three new Public Research Organisations.

Name

Grasslanz Technology Ltd.

Legal name

Grasslanz Technology Limited

Website

https://grasslanz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grasslanz Technology Limited is a New Zealand plant and microbial biotechnology company and AgResearch subsidiary that develops and licences proprietary Epichloë fungal endophyte and forage-cultivar technologies to seed-company partners serving dairy, sheep and beef farmers in NZ, Australia and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biotechnology

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Inoculants & Biological Seed Enhancers (Rhizobia, Mycorrhizae, PGPR) (AFABAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Forage & Pasture Seeds (Alfalfa, Clover, Ryegrass, Bermudagrass) (AFABAFAD)

Keywords

• Plant endophyte technology
• Microbial biotechnology
• Forage seed production
• Pasture pest control
• Hyperspectral seed imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Palmerston North

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Seed and Technology Licensing: Grasslanz licenses its endophyte and seed technologies to seed companies including PGG Wrightson Seeds that manufacture and market endophyte-containing seed products to farmers. Revenue is generated through licensing agreements and royalties from commercialized cultivars.
2. Joint Ventures: Revenue generated through joint ventures including Grasslands Innovation Ltd (forage technologies) and MI8 Optics (hyperspectral sensing). Since 2007, Grasslands Innovation has released over 40 new cultivars for commercialisation in NZ, Australia, and internationally.
3. Intellectual Property Commercialisation: Commercialisation of proprietary plant and microbial technologies including the AR37 endophyte, developed through AgResearch and commercialized via seed company partnerships. The AR37 endophyte alone is estimated to contribute NZ$3.6 billion to the NZ economy over its 20-year IP protection.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grasslanz Technology Ltd. is a New Zealand-based plant and microbial biotechnology company that develops, produces, and licenses proprietary Epichloë fungal endophyte technologies for pasture and forage grasses. It creates novel grass-endophyte associations (such as AR1 and AR37) that deliver insect pest resistance and livestock safety, and supplies endophyte-infected seed, contract seed production services, and the AGR96X biopesticide to seed companies and pastoral agriculture customers.

Product overview

Grasslanz Technology Ltd is an AgResearch commercial subsidiary that operates as a technology development and commercialisation company focused on plant and microbial solutions for agriculture. The portfolio comprises seed-based technologies (novel Epichloë endophytes such as AR37 and AR1 developed via the Endophyte Innovation brand, commercialised through the Grasslands Innovation Ltd joint venture with PGG Wrightson Seeds), hyperspectral imaging quality assurance technology (MI8 Optics Ltd joint venture with Massey Ventures), a biopesticide candidate (AGR96X, under regulatory review), and supporting research & development and seed production services. The company was established in 2003, is headquartered in New Zealand with offices in Australia, and its AR37 endophyte alone has been independently estimated to have contributed NZ$3.6 billion to the New Zealand economy over its 20-year patent life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AR37 Endophyte Technology

Quantifiable outcome

• AR37 endophyte estimated to contribute NZ$3.6 billion to NZ economy over 20-year IP life
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AgResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgResearch is the parent Crown Research Institute and primary research partner. Grasslanz is a commercial subsidiary of AgResearch. The Endophyte Discovery Team, based at AgResearch Lincoln, developed the AR37 endophyte and other novel endophytes. AgResearch scientists provide the foundational research that Grasslanz commercialises.
• PGG Wrightson SeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey commercial partner for endophyte technology and forage cultivar commercialisation. Joint venture partner in Endophyte Innovation (novel Epichloë endophytes for ryegrass and tall fescue) and Grasslands Innovation Ltd (forage technologies). Licensed to produce and market AR37 endophyte seed products.
• Grasslands Innovation LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between PGG Wrightson Seeds and Grasslanz Technology established in 2007. Develops and commercialises proprietary forage technologies for pasture-based animal production systems including ryegrass, fescue, chicory, plantain and red clover. Since formation, over 40 new cultivars have been released for commercialisation.
• MI8 Optics LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between Massey Ventures and Grasslanz Technology. Commercialises hyperspectral sensing and imagery technology for rapid, non-destructive assessment of endophyte presence, identification and viability in seed samples. Technology developed at Massey University. John Caradus serves as Director of MI8 Optics.
• Endophyte InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture vehicle between Grasslanz Technology and PGG Wrightson Seeds for developing novel Epichloë endophytes for ryegrass and tall fescue in conjunction with AgResearch. Major technological breakthrough for pastoral agriculture with improved insect control, agronomic performance, and pasture persistence.
• Massey UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner and co-founder of MI8 Optics joint venture. Massey University researchers developed the hyperspectral imaging technology for endophyte detection in seeds. Also partner through Massey Ventures for commercialisation of sensing technology.
• BarenbrugcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational seed company partner listed on Grasslanz website. Barenbrug is a global grass and forage seed company. Partner in distributing novel endophyte technologies and forage cultivars to farmers.
• Cropmark SeedscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNZ-based seed company partner. Listed as a partner on Grasslanz website, distributing novel endophyte technologies and improved forage cultivars to NZ farmers.
• DLFcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational seed company partner. Global forage seed company distributing Grasslanz-developed endophyte technologies and forage cultivars to farmers internationally.
• GentosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on Grasslanz website, participating in the distribution network for endophyte-containing seed products.
• Warner Brothers Seed CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on Grasslanz website for distribution of endophyte and forage technologies.
• GerminalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational seed company partner distributing Grasslanz novel endophyte and forage technologies. Listed as a partner on Grasslanz website.
• AgricomcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNZ-based seed company partner. Listed as a Grasslanz partner for distribution of improved forage cultivars and endophyte technologies.
• RAGTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on Grasslanz website for distribution of endophyte and forage technologies.
• FAR (Foundation for Arable Research)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNZ arable research organisation listed as a Grasslanz partner. Collaborates on research and development of forage and endophyte technologies.
• Midlands Holdings LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNZ-based seed company partner. Enabled field trials for AGR96X biopesticide development for grass grub and Manuka beetle control. Co-invested in biological control options with Grasslanz Technology.
• PBRA (Pasture Biotech Research Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch association listed as a Grasslanz partner. Involved in pasture biotechnology research and development collaboration.
• University of GeorgiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university listed as a Grasslanz partner. Collaborates on endophyte and plant biotechnology research.
• University of North TexasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university listed as a Grasslanz partner for research collaboration in plant and microbial technologies.
• University of AdelaideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian university listed as a Grasslanz partner for research collaboration in plant science and biotechnology.
• BejominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational seed company partner listed on Grasslanz website, distributing endophyte and forage technologies.
• PenningtonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS seed company partner listed on Grasslanz website, distributing endophyte and grass seed products internationally.
• New Zealand Grassland AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partner. Grassland Trust encouraged student internship applicants and members present at the 2023 NZ Grassland Association Conference in Rotorua.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Forage Genetics International: US-based forage genetics company (Land O'Lakes subsidiary) focused on alfalfa and forage trait development. Comparable as a trait-and-cultivar developer licensing technology into seed company distribution.
• Barenbrug: Global grass and forage seed company that licenses Grasslanz endophyte technologies and competes in the same endophyte-grass seed category. Comparable as a multinational distributor of novel pasture endophyte products.
• DLF: Global forage and turf seed company and Grasslanz distribution partner. Directly comparable in the development and commercialisation of improved forage cultivars and endophyte-attached grass seed products.
• PGG Wrightson Seeds: NZ's largest seed company and Grasslanz's core JV partner in Grasslands Innovation and Endophyte Innovation. Directly comparable in forage cultivar commercialisation and endophyte-attached seed distribution in NZ and Australia.
• Germinal: UK and Ireland-based forage seed specialist and Grasslanz channel partner. Comparable in developing and distributing improved ryegrass and clover cultivars with proprietary biological traits.
• RAGT: European plant breeding and seed company, listed as a Grasslanz distribution partner. Comparable in forage and cover crop cultivar development with international commercialisation.

Emerging players

• AgBiome: US-based agricultural biotech focused on microbial products for crop protection. Comparable as an emerging player in microbial-based agricultural solutions, though Grasslanz's endophyte-on-seed model has a more defined commercial pathway via existing seed-company licences.

Broad incumbents

• Corteva: Global agricultural input major with a biotech and seed treatments portfolio. Comparable at the broad agricultural biotechnology and plant trait level, though operating at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Bayer Crop Science: Global agricultural biotech and seed giant with broad trait and input portfolios. Comparable as a broad incumbent in agricultural biotechnology and seed-applied technologies, including microbial and seed-treatment work.
• Syngenta: Global ag-input major with seed-care and crop protection businesses. Comparable as a broad incumbent developing seed-applied biologicals and crop biotechnology at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shareArticle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grasslanz-technology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Grasslanz Technology Ltd.