New breeding techniques and some helpful crown funding is set to revitalise the mussel farming industry in the South Island.

A collaboration involving Sanford, Sealord, and Wakatu Incorporation is seeking to domesticate the greenshell mussel to reduce disease and increase the size of the shellfish.

The government has said it’s matching the $26.3m investment by the consortium, titled "SPATnz".

Wakatu Incorporation CEO Keith Palmer says the project would effectively revolutionise the industry.

“It’s huge.

“What it does is bring the mussel industry into the sophisticated sort of culture that sheep farming has had.”

Mr Palmer says it’s encouraging to see Government getting so involved in an industry with huge potential for growth.

“Basically what we’ve been doing in the past is grabbing our spat (young mussels) straight from the wild.

“The problem with that is it risks disease, weather, and algae growth disrupting the process.

“What this new system does is enable us to control the breeding and supply, ensuring that everything is safe, and breed selectively.”

The location of the new development farm is yet to be decided, with Nelson thought to be the preferred site.