December 29, 2006

DuPont meets regulatory milestone for high oleic soybean oil trait

DuPont met an important milestone towards the commercialisation of its proprietary high oleic soybean oil trait by completing its US regulatory submissions for approval of the trait.

This keeps the Bunge DuPont Biotech Alliance on track for commercialisation of products containing the trait by 2009.

The high oleic soybean oil trait is the next generation of healthy oil traits developed by DuPont, through its subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, as part of a partnership with Bunge.

The trait would provide valuable benefits to food processors and industrial customers beyond those available today through TREUS(TM) Low Linolenic Soybean Oil and other low linolenic soybean oils in the market. Like low linolenic soybean oil, high oleic soybean oil eliminates the need for hydrogenation, resulting in foods with negligible amounts of trans fats.

Pioneer president Dean Oestreich called it a significant step for DuPont and for food companies looking for further improved oils.

With high oleic soybeans, the company could build on the success of their low linolenic soybean programme to ensure they had a wide range of trans fat alternatives for people, pointed out Dick Goodman, senior vice president and general manager, Bunge Oils.

The high oleic soybean oil produced from Pioneer(R) brand soybean varieties would be marketed as TREUS(TM) High Oleic Soybean Oil.

DuPont also announced earlier the completion of its US regulatory submissions for approval of the Optimum(TM) GAT(TM) trait in soybeans.