Making an Impact Around the World

DuPont pledged $1 million to the Global Crop Diversity Trust. This international fund is charged with securing long-term funding for the support of genebanks and crop diversity collections around the world. The Trust maintains the world's most critical germplasm for agricultural and industrial crops and supports struggling collections - especially those in developing countries. These collections are available to public and private plant breeders and farmers under the terms of an International Treaty on Plant genetic resources, adopted in 2001.

Pioneer is partnering with Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International to help improve the nutritional value of sorghum - using technology as a tool to fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty in Africa.

Pioneer and Africa Harvest partnered to help farmers increase their banana harvest in Chura, Kenya, by introducing new disease and pest-free banana tissue culture technology in 2005.

Pioneer Sementes in Brazil is not only a leader in agriculture, but also a leader in the communities in which it operates. The Brazilian team regularly finds ways to improve quality of life through volunteerism and investments. In 2005, the Instituto Pioneer Semear Amigos (IPSA) was established. Through this fund, Pioneer focuses on poor neighborhoods, children, teenagers, the elderly and people with disabilities. The "Semear Amigos" project is a partnership with the University of Santa Cruz that encourages adults from poor neighborhoods to participate in free classes that teach basic concepts such as electricity, electronics, sewing, cooking, and more, to help prepare participants for work.

In Paine, Chile, Pioneer is helping Enrique Bernstein High School students take what they learn about agriculture in the classroom to the field. Our support funds field rental and the purchase of farm equipment for students to use. Local Pioneer agronomists also offer several technical sessions each year.

Pioneer partnered with the Corn Husk Association of the Philippines to create the Life, Livelihood and Corn community service project. Filipino farmers learn to create crafts out of cornhusks they sell to earn additional income.