January 31, 2008

 

Pioneer Hi-Bred to sell Perdue Agribusiness low linolenic soy
 

 

Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. said Wednesday (January 30, 2008) it has reached a deal with Maryland-based Perdue AgriBusiness to sell low linolenic soy to farmers in Maryland, Delaware and southern Pennsylvania for the upcoming growing season.

 

The deal marks an expansion in the marketing of low linolenic soy, which have been sold by Pioneer for three consecutive seasons.

 

The soy yield an oil with a linolenic acid profile of less than 3 percent, which provides a better natural stability and increased shelf life. Low linolenic oil eliminates the need for partial hydrogenation, which creates trans fats. The oil supports the efforts of food companies to reduce or eliminate trans fats from their products.

 

The deal is part of an expanding platform of soy products launched by Pioneer for the food, feed and industrial marketplaces.

 

Perdue will pay a 60-cent per bushel premium to farmers who grow the beans.

 

"We're very excited about expanding low lin soy contracting through a quality organisation such as Perdue," said Russ Sanders, Pioneer marketing director. "This is great news for growers seeking greater income through premiums and the food processors that seek to market healthier foods."

 

Perdue officials said the deal will be good for soy growers in the region.

 

"Perdue is excited about the opportunity low lin soy bring to both soy  growers on the eastern shore and our food company customers who are seeking to lower the trans fat content of their products," John Ade, Perdue vice president of grain sales and merchandising said in a statement.

 

The deal means Pioneer will provide seed for two of its low linolenic soy varieties. Both varieties contain the Roundup Ready trait, a genetically modified seed that enables farmers to spray their fields with a weed killer without killing the plant.

 

Perdue AgriBusiness is a wholly owned subsidiary of Salisbury, Md.-based Perdue Inc., a privately held international food and agriculture business providing products and services to customers in more than 70 countries.

 

Des Moines-based Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is a leading provider of plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.