A Queensland company attempting to create crops that can withstand drought and viruses will seek out commercial deals in the US as farmers remain gripped by the dry spell.
University of Queensland start-up Nexgen Plants has developed plant-breeding technology that could lead to drought- and virus-resistant crops.
It has worked to add resistance elements to crop plants since 2009 with financial support from Queensland taxpayers and will soon seek to secure commercial deals in the US after getting approved by American regulators.
"We're just replicating the process of natural breeding but doing it in a way that is quicker and more targeted," NexGen Plants director Brian Ruddle said.
"Jumping that hurdle of US approval has allowed us to take the next step, which is to engage with plant breeders to identify which traits are of interest and working on adding those traits into their crops."
Nexgen Plants has been developing its technology using tomatoes, potatoes, sorghum and rice since 2009.
It does not add foreign DNA to a plant. Instead, it modifies its existing genetics to add in traits such as virus and drought resistance.
More than 50 per cent of Queensland is drought declared, with farmers struggling against conditions that meteorologists say are unlikely to end soon.
The state government has held up NextGen's work as an example of one idea that could drought-proof farmers in future.
"Crop losses caused by environmental stress like drought and salinity or viruses are a multibillion-dollar global problem," Innovation Minister Kate Jones said on Thursday.
"The technology developed by this innovative Queensland company provides a potential solution for farmers to improve crop yields and productivity."
