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Asoyia LLC and Dairyland Seed join forces to enhance ultra low linolenic soybean traits
Iowa City, Iowa
October 3, 2005

Asoyia LLC and Dairyland Seed have announced a strategic collaboration to develop and market soybean germplasm for the ultra low linolenic soybean market.

“We’re excited to team up with Asoyia, who already has significant success in, and knowledge of, the developing 1% ultra low linolenic soybean market from both ends of the business—producing soybeans with the ultra low linolenic trait and marketing ultra low linolenic soybean oil. Asoyia is the first organization to successfully produce 1% ultra low linolenic soybeans in volume and, as a result, provides highly stable trans fat free oil to the food industry.  This experience will be invaluable as we work together,” said Tom Strachota, CEO of Dairyland Seed.

“Asoyia is honored to have the opportunity to work with an industry leader like Dairyland Seed on this joint effort,” said Dr. Vivan Jennings, CEO of Asoyia. “Dairyland is recognized as one of the premier plant breeding companies in the seed industry.  With Dairyland’s expertise in developing elite soybean varieties, we look forward to the development of additional elite varieties of the Asoyia ultra low linolenic soybean that are even more vigorous and robust.”

Oil from ultra low linolenic soybeans is becoming increasingly popular in the food industry, as an alternative to partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Asoyia’s soybeans have 1% linolenic acid—the lowest level of linolenic acid among any brands on the market—compared to 7% that normally occurs in soybeans. This lower linolenic acid makes oil processed from these soybeans naturally stable without requiring hydrogenation. The absence of hydrogenation eliminates trans fatty acids, which the Food and Drug Administration is requiring food manufacturers to list on all product labels beginning in January 2006. Trans fatty acids have been linked to increased cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease.

This fall, Asoyia will harvest 25,000 acres of 1% ultra low linolenic soybeans grown by more than 100 Iowa producers. Under the Asoyia brand, the company currently produces six different genetic lines of soybeans  with the ultra low linolenic trait.

The goals of the collaboration between Asoyia and Dairyland are to develop high yielding soybeans with improved genetic packages that contain the 1% ultra low linolenic soybean trait.  The new genetics will add disease resistance and new desirable traits across diverse maturity ranges where soybeans are grown.

Asoyia’s 2005 harvest will produce more than 12 million pounds of ultra low linolenic soybean oil, which will continue to be marketed to the food service industry throughout the United States and overseas. Current customers include food processors, restaurants, and university and hospital food service. Additionally, the company is selling regionally retail bottles of Asoyia Ultra Low Linolenic Soybean Oil.

Asoyia is farmer-owned and provides premiums and revenue sharing with all of its growers. One hundred percent of Asoyia profits go back to Iowa farmers.

For 2006 ultra low linolenic soybean production will be focused in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area.  Additional production areas will be developed and identified and identified for the 2007 season and beyond.

With the largest independent plant breeding program in the industry, Dairyland Seed has 12 plant breeders working to develop high-yielding elite germplasm. Dairyland Seed’s research team brought to market the world’s first herbicide-tolerant soybeans in 1993. The company released the first herbicide tolerant soybeans to surpass the 70-, 80-, and 90-bushel per acre yield levels in university trials. Dairyland recently announced the release of the industry’s first early maturity stacked herbicide tolerant soybeans which contain tolerance to both Monsanto’s Roundup® herbicide and DuPont’s STS® herbicides.  Its research program spans nearly three decades, and its locations are spread throughout the United States, Mexico, Central and South America.

Dairyland Seed is one of the country’s largest privately owned seed companies, bringing nearly 100 years of expertise to the collaboration with Asoyia.

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