June 15, 2007

 

DuPont to invest US$42m in seed genetics research

 

 

Plant genetics research company Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. and its parent company, E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. (DD), have announced plans to spend US$41.7 million to expand its Pioneer seed genetics research in the US state of Iowa.

 

Most of the money, about US$34 million, will be spent at Pioneer's headquarters in Johnston, a Des Moines suburb, where 52 jobs will be added and a US$21 million, 60,000-square-foot research laboratory would be built, Pioneer spokesman Pat Arthur said Thursday (Jun 14).

 

Pioneer also will expand research facilities in Dallas Center, Urbandale and Marion and renovate a DuPont automotive coatings plant in Fort Madison.

 

A US$100 million plan to boost its research capabilities in plant genetics and biotechnology was announced earlier but details for Iowa were released by the companies and the Iowa Department of Economic Development on Wednesday when state incentives were approved.

 

The company would receive state tax breaks under a jobs creation program and US$400,000 from a separate state economic development fund, an IDED statement said.

 

Under the incentive package, Pioneer pledges to hire an additional 165 workers, including 85 researchers in Iowa.

 

DuPont wants to expand its market position in ethanol and other biofuels as well as emerging technology in cellulosics and other biomaterials, the company said.

 

The US$100 million plan includes the addition of more than 400 positions globally, mainly in research and development at Pioneer, and expanding research and development efforts at 67 of the 92 Pioneer research centers worldwide.

 

The research center would focus on winter nursery capabilities for corn and soybean breeding, drought tolerance and heat stress research, as well as local product development efforts, the company said in a statement.