June 6, 2008

DuPont aims for 40-percent hike in soy and corn yields


E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co. said Thursday (June 5, 2008) that it targets to increase its soy and corn yields by 40 percent over the next 10 years through its Pioneer Hi-Bred unit.

The US agriculture and biotechnology company expects to grow DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition segment sales by 6 percent to 8 percent and earnings by more than 15 percent on average between 2007 and 2010.

DuPont said it is developing an array of new agricultural technologies including next-generation herbicide resistance for corn and soy.

The company stock was trading up 93 cents at US$47.70.