Des Moines, Iowa and Davis,
California
March 12, 2008
DuPont and Arcadia
Biosciences, Inc., today announced a research and commercial
agreement to improve nitrogen use efficiency in corn. Under the
agreement, DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred has exclusive rights
to Arcadia's proprietary technology for improving nitrogen use
efficiency in corn. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"This collaboration gives a significant boost to the progress
we've already made in developing corn hybrids that use nitrogen
more efficiently," said William S. Niebur, vice president -
DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development. "We look forward
to partnering with Arcadia to further develop a technology that
will help farmers increase the productivity, profitability and
sustainability of global corn production."
Farmers around the world depend on a combination of nitrogen
fertilizer and advanced genetics and technology to increase
productivity. According to the International Fertilizer
Association and the Food and Agriculture Organization, more than
12.5 million metric tons of nitrogen fertilizer are applied
globally each year to corn. Nitrogen fertilizer prices, which
are closely tied to natural gas prices, continue to rise, making
efficient use of nitrogen fertilizer an increasingly important
issue in grower profitability.
Corn is a key focus for the application of nitrogen use
efficiency technology because it is one of the most important
global food crops and an intensive user of nitrogen fertilizer.
Like most crops, corn only absorbs some of the nitrogen that is
applied to it, resulting in economic inefficiencies for farmers.
Although farmers have taken great strides to reduce runoff, a
portion of the unabsorbed nitrogen can enter waterways or
volatize into the air as a greenhouse gas.
"We've demonstrated in multiple field trials over the past five
years that our nitrogen use efficiency technology can offer
farmers a sound improvement in farm economics that also results
in environmentally positive impacts," said Eric Rey, president
and CEO of Arcadia. "Pioneer has a long history of innovation
and successful commercialization of new products and an
extremely strong reputation and high level of trust among
farmers. Their ability to develop and commercialize new corn
hybrids utilizing this important technology makes this alliance
particularly exciting. The end result will be products that
significantly improve farm economics while helping to reduce the
global carbon footprint of agriculture."
Pioneer is aggressively pursuing enhanced efficiency in nitrogen
use - applying both transgenic and traditional research methods
for future hybrid improvement. The collaboration with Arcadia
builds on nitrogen use efficiency work already under way at
Pioneer.
"We are making incredible progress toward improving nitrogen use
efficiency in corn. The collaboration with Arcadia will build on
the nitrogen use efficiency leads we currently have at various
stages of field testing," Niebur said.
Based in Davis, California, with additional facilities in
Seattle, Washington and Phoenix, Arizoza, Arcadia Biosciences is
an agricultural biotechnology company focused on the development
of agricultural products that improve the environment and
enhance human health.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, 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
in nearly 70 countries.
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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