General News
29 July, 2024
Major grain breeder breaks new ground
One of the country’s top cereal breeders has begun construction of its new state of the art facility south of Horsham.
Major wheat, barley and oat breeding company InterGrain marked the occasion with a groundbreaking event on Friday July 19.
The new building, at 142-150 Stawell Road, is situated on a 9852sqm Pellicano development site, and marks a significant advancement for InterGrain’s east coast operations.
Secured with a 20-year lease and additional options, the facility will optimise its operations through expanded storage capacity, enhanced pest control, and advanced temperature control and dust extraction systems.
“InterGrain started operations in Horsham in 2010 and the facility is a crucial hub for our breeding activities,” InterGrain CEO Tress Walmsley said.
“As our breeding programs continue to grow significantly, this new custom-built facility with increased capacity and efficiency, will support our future growth across the east coast and we are so pleased to get construction underway.
“The new build will not only increase operational efficiency but also greatly improve the working environment for our team.”
Intergrain said its breeding programs were designed to target the major cereal growing regions of Australia.
Melbourne construction company Pellicano, which has enabled the deal, said the move was a sign of confidence in Horsham’s growth.
“Pellicano is proud to partner long-term with an Australian plant breeding pioneer such as InterGrain, providing them with an end-to-end solution that made sense for both of us,” managing director Renato Pellicano said.
“We have held onto this land for a long time, waiting for the right user, and this research and development manufacturing facility is a significant step towards our long-term investment in the Horsham area.
“We see Horsham as a real growth area over the next 10-20 years and have a larger 14,370sqm piece of land available next door for regional occupiers to continue our ongoing investment in the region.”
InterGrain employs more than 70 staff and has offices in Perth and Horsham.
It also has marketing staff based in Northam, Adelaide, Dalby and Wagga Wagga.
“This significant investment is part of the company’s triple node commitment to breeding programs across Australia, which also includes a new facility in Perth, WA and a seed production site at Narrabri, NSW,” the company said.
InterGrain’s shareholders are the WA State Government and Grains Research and Development Corporation.
The building is expected to be completed by mid 2025.