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Ho‘olehua, Moloka‘i
April 28, 2009
Dow AgroSciences LLC, operating locally as its seed
affiliate Mycogen Seeds on Moloka'i, announced today it has
signed an agreement with Gay & Robinson Inc. (G&R) to lease land
for agricultural use on the eastern ridge of Makaweli on Kaua'i.
Operations on Kaua'i will begin immediately. First steps will
include the set-up of on-island facilities, hiring of employees
for start-up purposes, and preparation of the land for planting
in the third quarter of this year.
"The agreement with Dow AgroSciences supports a growing and
viable sector of the agricultural industry in Hawai'i that will
stimulate the economy, thereby benefiting the Kaua'i community,
while also perpetuating Gay & Robinson's long-standing
commitment to keeping our lands in agriculture," said E. Alan
Kennett, president of G&R.
Dow AgroSciences and its seed brands including Mycogen,
Dairyland, Triumph, Brodbeck, and Renze Seeds, will play a
growing role in the agricultural industry and the state's
economy by developing a new business and a trained and
experienced workforce for the production of corn on the island.
With the new seed corn operation on Kaua'i, Dow AgroSciences
expands its production in Hawai'i and expects to hire most of
its employees from Kaua'i.
"We currently employ approximately 50 full-time, part-time and
seasonal employees who all reside on Moloka'i," said Adolph
Helm, Mycogen Seeds' project leader on Moloka'i. "We have had
great success on the island because of the favorable weather
conditions and reliable workforce, and with this new lease we
are excited to expand our existing operations to a second
island."
Dow AgroSciences is committed to maintaining Kaua'i's iconic,
undeveloped landscape by keeping the land in agricultural use --
all while supporting economic stability as a non-tourism based
source of revenue.
"We are committed to the Kaua'i community and will continue the
good land stewardship that G&R has demonstrated over the past
decades," Helm concluded.
Dow AgroSciences LLC is a U.S. based company, specializing in
crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seed, traits
and agricultural biotechnology with seed operations in the State
of Hawai'i. Dow AgroSciences began its operation in 2000 on the
island of Moloka'i, as its seed affiliate Mycogen Seeds. Beyond
the islands, Dow AgroSciences seed companies develop, produce
and market sunflowers, corn, canola, alfalfa, soybeans, cotton
and sorghum in the United States and sugar cane, corn,
sunflowers, and sorghum in Argentina and Brazil. Dow
AgroSciences is committed for the long term to being a
productive contributor to the Kaua'i community, enhancing the
island's proud tradition of agricultural and environmental
stewardship. |
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