DuPont Announces Investment in Seed Treatment Solutions for Growers

New State-of-the-Art Network will Develop Seed Treatment Applications and Handling; New Products Available to Growers

Today, DuPont announced construction on two state-of-the-art centers dedicated to developing and testing seed treatment formulations, applications and seed handling techniques in an important step toward bringing new solutions to growers. These facilities – the first two centers of the new DuPont Integrated Seed Science Network – will be located in Wilmington, Del., and Johnston, Iowa, and will play an integral role in the expansion of the DuPont seed treatment portfolio.

“Seed treatments play a vital role in the success of a crop – from protecting seeds from pests and disease to complementing germplasm and traits to promoting plant vigor and stand establishment,” said Mick Messman, director of the DuPont Seed Treatment Enterprise. “DuPont Pioneer and DuPont Crop Protection have come together under the DuPont Seed Treatment Enterprise to develop a superior pipeline of integrated products to meet the demands of our customers around the world. These new facilities will support us in that mission.”

As part of this new venture, DuPont launched several new seed treatment products this year under the DuPont™ Lumigen™ brand, including the release of Dermacor® seed treatment products in the Brazilian soybean market and DuPont™ Lumiderm™ insecticide seed treatment for canola in Canada. DuPont is launching DuPont™ Lumivia™ insecticide seed treatment for 2015 U.S. spring planting. It will be available in the Pioneer Premium Seed Treatment (PPST) lineup as PPST 250 plus DuPont Lumivia for select Pioneer brand corn products.

The new seed science centers will build on a strong pipeline of seed treatment products and combinations by enabling DuPont to test new formulations under unique environmental conditions to create tailored treatments that meet specific grower needs, while also evaluating product dust-off. Facilities outside the United States will be added as needed to support the global market opportunity.

“The testing at our seed science centers will help us understand all of the dynamics of seed treatment application,” said Messman. “Gathering this information is beneficial not only to us, but to our collaborators and customers as we will be able to better identify and develop improved seed treatment application combinations and techniques.”

Construction of the Wilmington location is scheduled to be completed in September of 2014 and the Johnston location in summer 2015.

DuPont Pioneer is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability, and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success®.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.