PGG Wrightson Seeds

PGG Wrightson Seeds is a New Zealand-based seed company whose business centres on grass and forage crops for farming. Its range includes brassicas, grasses, clovers, chicory and lucerne, with products developed for use in pasture and livestock feed systems. The company describes itself as New Zealand’s largest specialist supplier of New Zealand-sourced and grown seeds and as Oceania’s largest seed company. Its work is aimed at helping farmers improve animal performance, production and farm profitability. The company combines seed supply with technical support. Its stated approach is to work with farmers and retailers through science, innovation and partnership, and it provides agronomists and other specialists to advise on products, grazing and crop systems, and seed management. It also undertakes plant-breeding and animal-grazing trials and identifies AgResearch and Plant & Food Research as primary research partners. The company says it invests substantially in research and development; its homepage cites annual investment of more than NZ$18 million, while its About Us page describes investment well in excess of NZ$10 million. These are the figures stated on those respective pages. PGG Wrightson Seeds was formed in 2005 through the merger of Pyne Gould Guinness and Wrightson. Both predecessor companies trace their origins to the nineteenth century: 1851 and 1868 respectively. Earlier in 2005, PGG acquired Agricom, which the company identifies as one of its two main product portfolios. Since 2019, PGG Wrightson Seeds has been part of DLF, a Danish seed grower co-operative. The company’s history page describes DLF as operating in more than 100 countries and says the acquisition added New Zealand, Australia and South America to DLF’s markets. PGG Wrightson Seeds maintains a New Zealand-focused farming and technical-support presence and also presents Australia and international operations through its corporate site.

PGG Wrightson Seeds’ corporate history brings together several strands of New Zealand’s seed and agricultural business. The company states that it was formed in 2005 following the merger of Pyne Gould Guinness and Wrightson. The roots of those predecessor companies go back to 1851 and 1868 respectively, giving the combined business a much longer agricultural heritage than the date of its formation. These dates refer to the predecessor companies’ origins, not to the founding of PGG Wrightson Seeds under its current name. Another important development took place in 2005, when PGG purchased Agricom, a New Zealand seed company. PGG Wrightson Seeds identifies Agricom as one of its two main product portfolios. The company’s present identity therefore reflects both the PGG–Wrightson merger and the addition of Agricom’s seed business. The company describes itself as a New Zealand-based business and a major seed supplier in New Zealand and Oceania. Its public account of its role extends beyond selling seed: it says it works with farmers and retailers to develop grass and forage crops, provides practical expertise on grazing and crop systems, and applies research and trials to breeding and product development. Its listed research relationships include AgResearch and Plant & Food Research. The company’s product range covers brassicas, grasses, clovers, chicory and lucerne, serving pasture and livestock-feed needs. In 2019, PGG Wrightson Seeds became part of DLF, a Danish seed grower co-operative. PGG Wrightson Seeds’ corporate history presents the acquisition as a significant addition to DLF’s geographic reach, bringing New Zealand, Australia and South America into its markets. The same page describes DLF as operating in more than 100 countries. PGG Wrightson Seeds continues to present itself as a source of seeds and technical expertise for farmers, with corporate-site sections covering New Zealand, Australia and international activity. Its stated emphasis remains on research, innovation and partnership, with seed positioned as the beginning of a broader relationship supporting farm systems.

• 2019

  PGG Wrightson Seeds becomes part of DLF

• 2005

  PGG Wrightson Seeds is formed through the merger of Pyne Gould Guinness and Wrightson

• 2005

  PGG purchases Agricom, later identified as one of PGG Wrightson Seeds’ two main product portfolios

• 1868

  Wrightson predecessor traces its origins to 1868

• 1851

  Pyne Gould Guinness predecessor traces its origins to 1851

A New Zealand seed and agronomy partner focused on science-led grass and forage solutions intended to improve livestock feed, farm productivity and profitability.

• Brassica seed

  Seed for brassica forage crops.

• Grasses and ryegrasses

  Grass seed offerings for pasture and forage systems.

• Clovers

  Clover seed within the company’s listed seed range.

• Chicory

  Chicory seed within the company’s listed seed range.

• Lucerne

  Lucerne seed within the company’s listed seed range.

1. 1Grass and Forage Seed | PGG Wrightson Seedspggwrightsonseeds.com
2. 2History | PGG Wrightson Seedspggwrightsonseeds.com
3. 3About Us | PGG Wrightson Seedspggwrightsonseeds.com
4. 4Contact Us | PGG Wrightson Seedspggwrightsonseeds.com
5. 5PGG Wrightson Seeds (New Zealand)wikidata.org