Des Moines, Iowa and Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina
January 15, 2009
DuPont and Athenix
today announced they have entered into a research collaboration
to improve insect control in corn and soybeans. Under the
agreement, DuPont business
Pioneer Hi-Bred will use proprietary insect-resistance trait
genes from Athenix to develop and commercialize next-generation
corn and soybean seed products. Terms of the agreement were not
disclosed.
“The novel products developed through this partnership will
build upon industry-leading insect control solutions from
Pioneer,” said William S. Niebur, DuPont vice president – Crop
Genetics Research and Development. “We look forward to
partnering with Athenix to enhance our line of products with
these new traits to increase productivity, profitability and
sustainability for Pioneer customers.”
Athenix will focus on microbial screening, molecular biology and
genomics to discover gene leads that protect corn and soybeans
against destructive insect pests including corn rootworm,
European corn borer, earworms and cutworms. Pioneer researchers
will validate and further develop these gene leads through their
proprietary trait enhancement tools, including gene shuffling.
Accelerated trait integration processes will be utilized to
incorporate these traits into industry-leading new products that
will directly address the global demand for superior
agricultural productivity.
“Development of new traits for insect control is important not
only to provide growers with enhanced options but also to solve
the challenges of resistance management. We are pleased to be
working with an industry leader like Pioneer to bring Athenix’
novel insect control options to the market,” said Mike Koziel,
chief executive officer at Athenix.
Under the agreement, Pioneer will have exclusive ownership of
novel insect control genes enhanced through its gene shuffling
technology and the corn and soybean germplasm it develops using
Athenix and Pioneer-enhanced genes.
Pioneer currently offers Herculex® insect protection traits,
which provide the broadest spectrum of in-plant insect control
available. Pending regulatory approval, Pioneer intends to
leverage the unique properties found in the Herculex® family of
traits to introduce the industry’s first reduced, in-the-bag
corn rootworm refuge solution – Optimum™ AcreMax® 1 Insect
Protection – in 2009.
Athenix is a leading biotechnology company that develops
novel products and technologies for agricultural and industrial
applications, including biofuels and bioconversions. Athenix has
established an outstanding intellectual property portfolio and
market access ability around enhanced plants, microbes, genes,
enzymes, and processes with emphasis on two major markets: 1)
novel agricultural traits for growers such as insect resistance,
nematode resistance, herbicide tolerance, and their use for the
crop production industry; and 2) the discovery of genes and
proteins for use in the sustainable chemical industry with a
focus on biofuels like ethanol and other natural products.
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.
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, and
Optimum™ AcreMax® 1 are registered trademarks or trademarks of
DuPont or its affiliates.
Herculex® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and
Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex® and the HX logo are registered
trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
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