DuPont Helps Growers Maximize Soybean Market Opportunities

Characterization of high oil, protein levels beneficial for emerging biodiesel market

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 1, 2006 -- For the first time, DuPont, through its subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., will enable growers to access a comprehensive analysis of the protein and oil levels of its soybean varieties to help growers choose seeds that best meet their needs and marketplace demands.

Through the Pioneer IndustrySelect® Program, the company has been working diligently to create and characterize high-yielding products for their potential to deliver on end-user value specifications. This includes offering soybean varieties with higher oil and protein levels, ideal for meeting the needs of the growing biodiesel market.

Each year, Pioneer outlines the specific oil and protein levels of its varieties, providing growers with a better understanding of characterization data and how it can be leveraged to create opportunities and maximize income per acre in the future.

"It's important for growers to know the full characteristics of what they're planting in their fields, whether that's yield potential, agronomic traits, or oil and protein content," said Dean Oestreich, DuPont vice president and general manager for Pioneer. "At Pioneer, we're focused on delivering products to our growers that can provide them with the greatest yield per acre and the qualities that can help them be more competitive in an evolving marketplace."

Pioneer characterizes its soybean varieties for protein and oil content by using Near-Infrared instruments (NIR) with industry standard calibrations from the Federal Grain Inspection Service. Those varieties with characterization data that indicate oil levels of 19 percent or more (at 13 percent grain moisture) and/or protein levels of 35 percent or more (at 13 percent grain moisture) have been identified as high-oil and/or high-protein varieties.

This information is helpful for growers who wish to take advantage of the growing demand for soybean oil -- whether for food, feed or industrial uses.

In the food market, Pioneer is already seeing the popularity of low linolenic soybeans in the production of cooking oils that reduce or eliminate trans fats.

And while soybeans account for 80 percent or more of the edible fats and oils consumed in the United States, soybean oil also is used in industrial paint, varnishes, caulking compounds, linoleum, printing inks and other products.

The latest interest in soybeans is in the growing biodiesel market where it is used to create clean burning alternative fuel to replace nonrenewable petroleum products.

Pioneer has been focusing on the biodiesel industry for the past several years, working with processors to explore the opportunities and growth potential.

"Pioneer supports the expansion of the biodiesel market as a way to enhance grower income and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources," Oestreich said. "That's why we've invested the time and effort to characterize the oil content of our soybeans and other crops and now aggressively are communicating that information to growers and the industry."

Growers interested in more information about Pioneer soybean varieties suitable for their geography and the oil and protein levels for those varieties can contact their local Pioneer sales professional.

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.

IndustrySelect® is a registered trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred International.

Contact:
Stephanie Jacobson
515-334-6515

SOURCE: DuPont