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What is AEXCO? Australian Exporters Company or AEXCO represents the majority of export hay processors located in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales. AEXCO was selected by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) as the successful company to commercialise new hay varieties beginning in 2001. Since 2001 AEXCO has launched 7 oat hay varieties, Kangaroo, Wintaroo, Brusher, Mulgara, Tungoo, Tammar and Forester, onto the market. The AEXCO shareholders (the major export hay processors) have agreed to return all profits generated by AEXCO back into the oat breeding program to fund much needed research and development and to build future export markets for all industry stakeholders. AEXCO also plays a major role setting breeder priorities to achieve desired export hay quality, encompassing both export market and grower requirements. An example of the linkage is the development of oat varieties that maintain green color and are adapted to regions with varying seasonal characteristics. As part of the license to market the new oat varieties with Plant Breeders Rights, AEXCO liaises with a group of private companies to augment the multiplication and commercial release of new varieties.
IP Australia has granted Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) for all of AEXCO oat hay varieties. PBR was introduced to stimulate investment in plant breeding by conferring ownership rights to varieties and thereby the potential to market those rights as part of a commercialization process. The PBR Amendment Act of 2002 gives an owner of PBR the right to sell, produce, reproduce, import, export, stock and condition the seed of a variety protected by PBR (or license another person or organization to undertake these activities). The rights are similar to patents or copyright (they record the ownership of the genetic material) and are administered under the Act. PBR Protection can last up to 20 years for broadacre crops. PBR guarantee ownership of a variety but do not specify how the variety should be commercialized or whether or where royalties should be applied or charged. Key Points
AEXCO is responsible for the collection of the following royalties that apply to all AEXCO oat hay varieties. Export Hay End Point Royalty: $1.10 / tonne (GST Inclusive) Oat Grain End Point Royalty: $1.10 / tonne (GST inclusive) Seed Royalty: Growers buying seed for the production of grain and / or domestic hay may also have to pay a seed royalty. The seed royalty will be incorporated into the seed price quoted by an authorized AEXCO seed distributor. Royalties are distributed back to SARDI and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) as agreed in each variety license.
AEXCO has licensed the following companies to produce and distribute seed of AEXCO varieties. South Australia Victoria Southern NSW |
