Des Moines, Iowa
October 19, 2007
DuPont Chairman and CEO Charles O. Holliday, Jr., today told
participants at the World Food Prize that biotechnology will
enable the world to keep pace with the rapid growth in global
demand for food, feed, fuel and materials.
"Biotechnology is the most powerful tool available to secure a
safe, sustainable food and energy future," Holliday said. "It
holds the promise to deliver the world more, higher quality
grain with less environmental impact."
The World Food Prize is the foremost international award
recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced
human development by improving the quality, quantity or
availability of food in the world.
Holliday said, "Global population growth is driving increased
demand not only for food but also for renewable energy and
materials, for greater safety and security, and for increased
connectivity." Holliday said that as a market-driven science
company, DuPont is working on solutions to meet needs in all of
those areas. He underscored that DuPont science includes
capabilities in chemistry and biology, as well as in emerging
fields such as nanotechnology.
"In the process, DuPont will maintain its strong commitment to
sustainability," Holliday said, outlining DuPont's 2015
sustainability goals which encompass market-facing objectives -
such as increasing the number of environmentally smart products
from research and development - as well as continuing the
company's progress in reducing the environmental footprint of
its products and operations.
Holliday said that DuPont is using biotechnology to improve
farmer productivity and profitability, increase grain quality
and yield and enhance biofuels production. "The DuPont research
pipeline is full of biotech traits that will increase yields,
enhance nutrition, improve biofuels production, tolerate drought
and require less nitrogen," he said.
He noted that plant biotechnology has been adopted faster than
any other technology in the history of agriculture. "Farmers
around the world have recognized the significant value of
biotechnology and have adopted its use at an amazing pace,"
Holliday said.
DuPont also is developing new technologies for the growing
renewable fuels market, such as improving biofuels production
through improved seed and crop protection products; developing
new technologies to allow conversion of cellulose to biofuels;
and developing next-generation biofuels.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company.
Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating
sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier
life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries,
DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services
for markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation. |
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