DuPont announced the addition of four new seed research centres in developing countries and expanded operations at three existing facilities to develop seed to meet local needs for food productivity.

The new research operations bring the total number of DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred research centres to nearly 100 worldwide. 

The new research centres include a multi-crop center in Ukraine for corn, canola and sunflower research; and corn research facilities in Beijing, China, and Udaipur and Vijayawada, India.

Research operations at facilities traditionally focused on sorghum in Manhattan, Kansas, and Plainview, Texas, now will be expanded to include additional resources for corn drought testing. In addition, cotton will join pearl millet and rice as crops with research programmes in Hyderabad, India.

''The addition of these research centres allows us to strengthen our capabilities in these markets even further, bringing better genetics and traits that meet specific growing challenges to our customers faster.'' said William S. Niebur, vice president - DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development.

This additional plant breeding capacity is part of the US$700 million in research and development DuPont is committing annually to increase global food production. The investment also reflects the company's recently announced commitment for growth in emerging markets.

These facilities are the latest in a series of research centres Pioneer has opened within the last year, including a new corn and soy research centre in North Carolina and a multi-crop facility in Carman, Manitoba, for corn, canola and soy research.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is a world leading source of customised solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.