Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. and Forage Genetics are forming a new organization focused on promoting, supporting and accessing public sector research on alfalfa technologies. Alfalfa Technology Consortium (ATC), through a unique competitive grant process, will provide financial assistance to research projects developing new value-added traits for alfalfa.

"Without the alliance between Pioneer and Forage Genetics, it's possible that this type of discovery  research may not occur for alfalfa. We're excited to be entering into this agreement with Pioneer to further advance the performance of alfalfa varieties developed by both companies,'' says Mark McCaslin, president of Forage Genetics. "This consortium provides a unique framework in which discovery research can be conducted for alfalfa.''

Through public-sector research funding, the two companies will provide a mechanism for
commercialization of discovered traits. Once new trait genes are discovered and integrated into base germplasm, each company will have access to the technology and work to incorporate the value-added trait into its own proprietary germplasm, thus releasing separate varieties to market.

"Alfalfa growers should benefit greatly because we're pooling our resources and focusing research efforts to bring them higher productivity for their alfalfa acres,'' says Dave Miller, coordinator of alfalfa research for Pioneer. "The agreement allows us to bring greater synergy to discovery research efforts for alfalfa. By combining our resources, we created the ability to more strongly invest in a vital, but often less-funded crop.''

Alfalfa is grown on 25 million acres in the United States, and provides an important feed ingredient to dairy producers, beef producers and horse enthusiasts.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. is the world's leading supplier of agricultural genetics and is a leading developer and integrator of agricultural technology. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer develops, produces and markets a full line of seeds, forage and grain additives, and services to grain and livestock producers, grain processors and other customers worldwide.

Forage Genetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Research Seeds, Inc., of St. Joseph, Mo., is an industry leader in research, development and marketing of value-added alfalfa technologies. Research Seeds has been recognized as a worldwide leader in the development, production and marketing of proprietary forage, turf seed and agricultural microbials for nearly 30 years.

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