Des Moines, Iowa
March 7, 2007
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., today announced a
$50,000 contribution for a proposed bio-based products industry
center at Iowa State University
that will focus on the economic, business and policy aspects of
the emerging bio-economy.
"Collaborations between industry and institutions are critical
to developing the bio-economy for the benefit of all," said Dean
Oestreich, Pioneer president. "We're pleased to partner with
Iowa State to lay the ground work for a center that can be a
catalyst to stimulate the growth of the bio-economy."
The proposed bio-based products industry center at Iowa State
will complement efforts of business and government in developing
technologies based on agricultural feedstocks. It will conduct
research that sheds light on the industry's rapidly evolving
economic and business challenges, including human capital,
business, marketing, policy and infrastructure. The center will
be administered under Iowa State's Office of Biorenewables
Programs.
"This is a very significant gift from Pioneer which will help us
leverage support from other funding sources for a bio-based
industry center," said Gregory Geoffroy, Iowa State University
president. "We are excited to be partnering with Pioneer and
others to create this center to help facilitate the expansion of
the bio-based products industry."
In addition to initial support for the planning of the proposed
center, Pioneer business leaders and scientists plan to
participate in the proposed center's Industry Advisory Board and
in industry-based research projects.
Pioneer is a subsidiary of DuPont, a world leader in the
development and manufacturing of high-performance materials that
provide environmentally sustainable solutions utilizing
renewable, farm-grown feedstocks rather than petroleum. DuPont
is committed to delivering new technologies to the growing
renewable fuels and materials markets, which include high
performance,
bio-based materials, 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.
Iowa State University was the first university in the United
States to establish a graduate program in biorenewable resources
and technology and offers one of the few master's and doctoral
degrees in this field.
"This gift from Pioneer will help Iowa State be more competitive
in creating centers of excellence in the bioeconomy field, and
expand our leadership role in this important area," said
Geoffroy.
DuPont -- one of the first companies to publicly establish
environmental goals 16 years ago -- has broadened its
sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction
to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research
and development investment like biofuels. The goals are tied
directly to business growth, specifically to the development of
safer and environmentally improved new products for key global
markets, including products based on non-depletable resources,
like biofuels.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont,
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, crop protection solutions and
quality crop systems to customers 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 and
regions, 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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