February 28, 2007

DuPont bares investment plans in 2007

DuPont announced it is executing its US$100 million reinvestment plan to increase its speed-to-market for new seed products. The plan includes the addition of more than 400 positions, mainly in research and development in its wholly owned subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

According to William Neibur, vice president for DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development, global demand for agricultural crops is very strong and thus the need to help farmers globally to upgrade its systems scientifically to meet the growing demand. 

The investment is the largest year-to-year increase in research in the 81- year history of the Pioneer business, a unit of the DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition platform. The platform is increasing support for seed and biotechnology research while continuing to drive a strong DuPont Crop Protection new product pipeline and Solae healthy food ingredients.

As part of the DuPont reinvestment plan announced in December 2006 to increase investment in plant genetics, biotechnology and other high-value growth opportunities, Neibur said the Pioneer business will be expanding R&D efforts at 67 of its 92 research centres worldwide. New positions will be filled by redeploying current employees from other DuPont businesses and outside hiring.

In preparation for this unprecedented launch of new products and technologies, DuPont is also adding positions to deliver more agronomic and sales support to customers and take advantage of new product lines.

Today the DuPont crop genetics research and development pipeline includes traits and technologies that help increase harvestable yield, increase ethanol production per acre, protect plants from insects and disease, increase nitrogen utilization, provide resistance to drought, improve weed control, and produce oils that support the demand for healthier food.

Niebur disclosed that their soon launching of their new innovation called the "Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait", will give farmers improved weed control options in soybeans in 2009 and in corn in 2010.

Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) combines tolerance to glyphosate herbicides and ALS herbicides, including DuPont proprietary chemistry, to give farmers broader spectrum, longer lasting weed control.

In addition to traits, the increased investment in research will enhance the ability of DuPont to improve its genetics through enhanced molecular breeding techniques. For 2007, the Pioneer business has introduced 86 new corn hybrids in North America, of which 17 are from new genetic families and 16 are triple stacks. Pioneer has launched 20 new soybean varieties for 2007 planting in North America as well.