Agresearch plans Otago joint venture

Agresearch says it will invest $8 million in a joint reproductive science and mammalian genomic centre with the University of Otago.

Andrew West, the chief executive of the Government's largest science company, said in Dunedin last week that the company also planned a significant upgrade of buildings and equipment at its Invermay campus, near Mosgiel.

Agresearch has said it eventually wants to double its staff on the campus to 120. With the phasing-out of its century-old Wallaceville complex near Wellington, Invermay will be one of three regional research centres run by Agresearch.

West said details of both investments are still to be finalised, but were largely prompted by the Agresearch animal reproduction team's impending move south from Wallaceville, due by 2008.

West said the reproduction centre would build on molecular biology work at the university and Agresearch's expertise in animal reproduction.

Sheep provided an ideal fertility model for humans, a growing issue in the western world as people delayed having children until later in life.

But the fertility research also had implications for animals, where dairy farmers were concerned about low conception rates for some breeds of dairy cows.

Agresearch hopes research at the new centre can be linked to work at Auckland University's Liggins Institute, which focuses on human growth and development.

- NZPA