Plant Breeding
Our Right Product, Right Acre strategy relies on understanding our customers, anticipating their needs and leveraging our know-how to develop quality products that bring value to customers. At Pioneer, plant breeding helps us produce the right products for our customers-wherever they farm.
Pioneering Science
Even back in the 1920s, Pioneer's leaders recognized the value of plant diversity. They established the basis for what is now one of world's most extensive, most extensively characterized and most diverse private germplasm collections. This genetic resource is the heart of our breeding program today.
Pioneer’s world-leading breeders are using the Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT™) System to develop better hybrids and varieties, and to advance native traits for specific challenges. The AYT System is a set of proprietary research tools that enables researchers to scan and identify genes responsible for important traits and incorporate them into commercial lines, while removing or minimizing undesirable qualities from hybrids and varieties.
Some examples of technology that are used in the plant breeding program at Pioneer are:
- Accelerated Yield Technology (AYTTM System) – Pioneer integrates a proprietary matrix of molecular-breeding technologies in the product development process, which results in breeding programs that are even better at increasing the rate of genetic gain, reducing yield variability and improving performance predictability.
- Boreas wind machine – Pioneer scientists can simulate the impact of high winds to evaluate corn root and stalk strength growing in field conditions, allowing for improved selection of hybrids that can better withstand nature's fury.
- Doubled haploids – Used in corn and canola to improve plant-breeding efficiency and effectiveness by generating inbred lines with 100 percent purity in just two generations rather than the seven generations usually required.
- EnClass® System Technology – Developed by Pioneer, this technology helps researchers understand and predict how unique corn hybrids will respond to environmental stress.
- Laser-Assisted Seed Selection (LASS) – Proprietary technology is used to increase the efficiency of learning the genetic makeup of our experimental crops. Lasers remove tissue from a corn kernel for DNA testing without affecting seed viability. Seeds that contain the best genetic combinations are identified for field testing.
- Marker-Assisted Selection – Genetic markers are used to identify the presence of a specific gene (or combination of genes) that carries a desirable trait. By using this technology, Pioneer is able to more efficiently indentify and develop products that bring farmers the greatest value.
- Plant DNA sequencing – Pioneer uses the latest techniques available to identify gene sequences.
Using Innovation
Pioneer has more than 4,000 researchers in 25 countries with more than 110 research locations dedicated to Research and Development efforts. We work side-by-side with customers and partners to develop new products and solutions to customer needs.
It's our combination of technology and agricultural knowledge that makes Pioneer a leader.
