"We don’t just sell seeds. We grow plants suited to Australia’s unique conditions then we follow up with comprehensive grower support." Speaking is Graham Brown , founder of Abundant Produce. The Australian company breeds varieties specifically for the Australian market and conditions. Over the coming years, they're releasing new varieties of cucumber, tomato, capsicum, eggplant and zucchini. Next week, united with Sydney University's Plant Breeding Institute, they will host a Horticultural Showcase, inviting growers from across Australia to join them.
During the event attendees will hear from - and be invited to direct questions to - some of Australia’s foremost plant breeders and scientists, and will be among the first to be given the opportunity to trial new hybrid cucumber and tomato varieties, bred in Australia for Australian conditions and which show remarkable heat and cold tolerance.
"We offer Australia’s growers something they haven’t been receiving from overseas suppliers", Graham explains. "A true partnership between breeder and grower, and we back that support and that partnership up with the scientific might of Sydney University’s world-renowned Plant Breeding Institute.”
Graham began his career at the Plant Breeding Institute in 1973 researching the diseases that affect wheat and breeding “rust” (a fungus) resistant wheat varieties before turning his plant breeding skills to flowers and then horticultural plants. “Whether they grow wheat or cotton or grapes for wine, Australian farmers are world leaders in embracing research and technology to grow superior crops with higher yields,” Graham Brown said. “It’s about time horticultural growers received proper support, and we and Sydney University are determined to provide it. This sort of event demonstrates just how different Abundant is, compared with international seed suppliers."
During the event, Graham will start proceedings in the Sydney University Lecture Theatre at the Cobbitty campus. He will outline Abundant’s breeding program successes over the past year and update growers about the pipeline of new varieties of cucumber, tomato, capsicum, eggplant and zucchini he expects to deliver to Australian growers over the coming years.
Dr Nabil Ahmad will then invite attendees to join him for a brief tour of Abundant’s 4,500 square metres of greenhouses which are located on campus. Nabil is a Research Fellow at Sydney University’s Plant Breeding Institute and a world leading plant breeding researcher. Nabil will explain how he exploits new research in molecular biology, plant pathology, agronomy and chemistry to breed plant varieties which are superior in terms of yield, fruit characteristics, hardiness and nutritional value. He will describe optimal techniques for growing horticultural plants in different growing environments and suggest methods for boosting yields in a range of situations.
Attendees will be invited to ask Graham and Nabil about any growing issues they may have and then join them for a BBQ and more casual discussion.
Professional growers will even be offered free trial seeds for Abundant’s latest high yielding, heat and cold tolerant cucumber and tomato varieties.
When: Wednesday 19th December 2018, 10am-2pm
Where: Sydney University Plant Breeding Institute, 107 Cobbitty Rd, Cobbitty NSW 2570
For more information and to request a free invitation to attend:
Abundant Seeds
https://abundantseeds.com/abundant-horticultural-showcase/