Des Moines, Iowa
September 21, 2007
Proprietary innovation
increases iields up to 12 percent
DuPont today announced it is
commercializing soybean varieties developed using a technology
that increases yields by as much as 12 percent per acre. DuPont
seed business Pioneer Hi-Bred
is introducing five varieties with the technology for 2008
planting, pending wide-area product advancement trial results.
This announcement officially launches one of the company’s three
soybean yield traits from its pipeline to commercial status. It
will be commercially known as Accelerated Yield Technology™
(AYT™). AYT™ uses proprietary molecular breeding techniques to
rapidly scan and identify genes that increase yield and then
incorporate them into elite soybean genetics.
“AYT™ allows us to take a giant step forward on our promise to
deliver industry-leading improvements in soybeans. Our customers
are seeing dramatic increases in Pioneer soybean variety yields
that have never been seen in such a short period of time,” said
William S. Niebur , vice president DuPont Crop Genetics Research
and Development. “This technology embodies our business
philosophy to increase the productivity and profitability of our
customers to help them meet the rising demand for food, feed,
fuel and materials.”
Until now, molecular breeding techniques used by the seed
industry have only produced single-gene defensive traits in
commercial varieties. There are multiple genes in complex
networks that determine the final yield level achieved. AYT™
builds upon DuPont industry-leading molecular breeding
techniques by allowing researchers to simultaneously select
multiple genes to significantly boost yields. AYT™ is not
transgenic so soybeans developed from this process are not
subject to additional regulatory approvals.
The first AYT™ varieties are higher yielding versions of the
newest Pioneer elite soybean genetics. Pending final trial
results this fall, Pioneer hopes to introduce an AYT™ version of
Pioneer® brand 94M80, which set the world record soybean yield
of 139 bushels per acre in 2006. New unique genetics are also
being developed using AYT™ and other molecular breeding
techniques.
“Full implementation of AYT™ combined with molecular breeding
technologies will enable Pioneer to make a new class of soybeans
that has unprecedented yield potential relative to anything we
have ever seen,” Niebur said. “These technologies allow us to
incorporate a complete package of offensive and defensive
characteristics that could make 100-plus bushel soybean yields a
common occurrence in the very near future.”
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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