Efforts to sequence the maize genome received a boost today with the announcement by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) that three industry leaders will share their corn genome sequence data. The valuable data provided by Ceres, Inc., Monsanto Company, and DuPont subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., combined with corn sequence data already in the public domain, will significantly accelerate the identification of genes within the entire corn genome.

With the availability of sequencing data, the corn genome could be completely sequenced by 2007, potentially years ahead of when it would have been completed without this initiative.

“The sharing of these data will pave the way toward future improvements in corn that hold great promise for corn growers and consumers around the globe,” said Gary Davis, chairman of NCGA’s Research and Business Development Action Team. “We would like to build on this momentum to develop a broader coalition that supports this important effort.”

NCGA believes completion of the maize genome sequence will increase breeding efficiency, streamline the delivery of new traits, allow the discovery and enhancement of properties such as drought tolerance and further the recognition and understanding of traits that will enhance corn’s position as the ideal crop for food, feed, fuel and industrial uses. Leaders from NCGA and the companies involved believe this sequencing information has the ability to benefit existing and future research for the U.S. corn industry.

“As a grower, I’m interested in how we can modify the corn crop to find new traits that offer enhanced value and new uses,” Davis said. “And as a consumer, the mapping of this genome is extremely important because it could lead to new products.”

This project underscores NCGA’s continued commitment to advancements through research. NCGA took a leading role in getting the Plant Genome Initiative signed into law in 1997 and continues to support this important effort. Today’s announcement reinforces that commitment, according to NCGA Manager of Research and Business Development Nathan Danielson. “This was a situation where a lot of people realized it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it,” he said.

The data will be available to research scientists through a searchable database on the Internet, and is intended to be hosted at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, a not-for-profit research institute. To gain access to the data, scientists must complete a licensing agreement that will be downloadable on the NCGA Web site, www.ncga.com.

NCGA leads industry initiative to advance sequencing of the maize genome. Ceres, DuPont, Monsanto transfer important genetic information to improve public research

St. Louis, Missouri
15 March 2004

Efforts to sequence the maize (corn) genome received a boost with the announcement today by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) that three industry leaders will share their corn genome sequence data. The valuable data provided by Ceres, Inc., Monsanto Company, and DuPont subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., combined with corn sequence data already in the public domain, will significantly accelerate the identification of genes within the entire corn genome.

The data will be available to research scientists through a searchable database on the Web, and is intended to be hosted at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, a not-for-profit research institute. To gain access to the data, scientists must complete a licensing agreement that will be downloadable on the NCGA Web site,  www.ncga.com.
 
With the availability of sequencing data from Ceres, DuPont and Monsanto, the corn genome could be completely sequenced by 2007, potentially years ahead of when it would have been completed without this initiative.
 
"The sharing of these data will pave the way toward future improvements in corn that hold great promise for corn growers and consumers around the globe, " said Gary Davis, chairman of NCGA' s Research and Business Development Action Team. "We would like to build on this momentum to develop a broader coalition that supports this important effort."
 
NCGA believes completion of the maize genome sequence will increase breeding efficiency, streamline the delivery of new traits, allow the discovery and enhancement of propertie such as drought tolerance and further the recognition and understanding of traits that will enhance corn ' s position as the ideal crop for food, feed, fuel and industrial uses. Leaders from the NCGA and the companies involved believe this sequencing information has the ability to benefit existing and future research for the U.S. corn industry.
 
Leaders at Pioneer, the world' s largest seed company, agree. "Henry Wallace founded Pioneer in 1926 with the sole purpose of increasing the value farmers get on each harvested acre," said Jim Miller, vice president, Crop Genetics Research & Development.  " One of the most effective ways to increase value is to discover and develop top performing seed. Sharing our corn genome sequence data to further public understanding of this important crop will allow farmers even more choices in improved plant genetics in the future. "
 
Richard Hamilton, president and CEO of Ceres, commented, "Ceres was founded to apply genomics technologies to crop improvement. Allowing public researchers to access this sequence information will significantly enhance the rate of discovery and crop improvement. "
 
Such discovery and crop improvement echoes Monsanto ' s commitment to facilitate and encourage research of corn. " Monsanto is proud to support corn research through this collective agreement, " said Robb Fraley, Monsanto' s chief technology officer. "This is a concrete example of our strength in genomics research and involvement in sharing scientific knowledge within the agricultural research community to help support the U.S. growers ' continued success in the global marketplace. "
 
This project underscores NCGA ' s continued commitment to advancements through research. NCGA took a leading role in getting the Plant Genome Initiative signed into law in 1997 and continues to support this important effort. Today ' s announcement reinforces that commitment.
 
The NCGA ' s mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn ' s profitability and usage. NCGA represents more than 33,000 members, 25 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.
 
Ceres, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company utilizing multiple integrated plant genomics technologies to develop innovative products. 
 
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers, and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions, and quality crop systems to  customers. DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
 
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.
 
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a global vision to improve the human condition. Research at the Danforth Center will enhance the nutritional content of plants to improve human health, increase agricultural production to create a sustainable food supply, and build
 scientific capacity to generate economic growth in the St. Louis region and throughout Missouri. This sequencing sharing agreement builds on the Center's leadership role in the NSF-sponsored Maize Genomics Consortium currently evaluating and validating a gene-enrichment strategy.