EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., Nov. 8, 2004 - Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., has contributed $10,000 to the National Corn-To-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The contribution will help fund research to improve distiller's dried grain/solubles (DDGS) for use in animal feed.
"The purpose of this research is to develop a model to predict the quality and composition of DDGS to ensure a continued market for these co-products as the fuel ethanol-production industry continues to grow," says Martha Schlicher, director of NCERC. "The NCERC is very grateful to Pioneer for its contribution, as well as the technical expertise of Pioneer staff members who have helped us develop this research project."
DDGS is a co-product of dry-grind fuel ethanol production and remains after the starch portion of corn is converted to ethanol. Used as animal feed for cattle, poultry and swine, DDGS is an important part of the overall economic value of dry-grind ethanol production.
The research being conducted by the NCERC will help to determine if corn grown under certain conditions results in better DDGS for the animal-feed market. This information will then be used to develop corn production management recommendations to help growers produce corn that will deliver the most valuable product for this market.
"This contribution to the NCERC is part of the on-going mission of Pioneer to expand the ethanol market for our customers," says Pat Hilliard, account manager - ethanol industry, Pioneer. "The research conducted at SIUE will work to make the downstream market for ethanol producers more profitable and, consequently, help expand the market for corn producers."
The NCERC is designed to support the research and development of the corn ethanol production process. Its mission is to improve the economics of corn ethanol production and accelerate commercialization of new technology within the industry for starch and ethanol processing, including value-added components.
In addition to this contribution to the NCERC, Pioneer recently announced the company will make available to the ethanol industry a tool designed to quickly quantify the ethanol yield potential of corn grain in the dry-grind process. The High Total Fementable (HTF) Rapid Assay technology will be available to the corn industry through the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Pioneer and the NCGA have signed a licensing agreement making this possible.
Also, Pioneer's own research in corn dry grind ethanol production has resulted in the characterization and identification of Pioneer® brand corn hybrids with above average ethanol yield. Nationally, Pioneer has characterized 111 products with the HTF designation for planting in 2005.
Located on 2,660 acres of rolling land and forested areas dotted with lakes, SIUE is a premier metropolitan university offering a broad choice of degrees and programs, ranging from career-oriented fields of study to the essential, more traditional, liberal arts. Serving the most populous area of downstate Illinois, SIUE is situated on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area and not more than 30 minutes from exciting cultural opportunities and major business and industrial centers.
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 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, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
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Contacts:
Jerry Harrington
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
800-247-6803, ext. 6908
Gregory J. Conroy
Asst. Director of Public Affairs
SIU Edwardsville
1-888-328-5168, ext. 3607
11/08/04
United States
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