Beijing, China
December 3, 2007
Partnership Will Focus on
Identifying New Biotech Traits to Improve Farmer Productivity
DuPont and Beijing Weiming
Kaituo Agriculture Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (BWK) today announced
the formation of a joint venture to accelerate the discovery of
genes for high value agronomic traits such as stress tolerance
and efficient nutrient utilization to improve the performance of
important crops for farmers in China and throughout the world.
For DuPont, this marks another step toward the globalization of
its R&D capabilities to accelerate new product launches and
drive business growth for its worldwide seed business, Pioneer
Hi-Bred. The financial terms of the agreement were not
disclosed.
“Novel trait combinations that provide plants with genetic
solutions to successfully confront the challenges of water and
nutrient deficiencies and cope with unfavorable wind and
temperature extremes resonate with every farmer I’ve ever worked
with,” said Bill Niebur , DuPont vice president, Crop Genetics
Research and Development. “This new joint venture brings
together industry-leading biotechnology researchers to develop
enabling technologies and discover new genes for important
agronomic traits that can further improve farmer productivity
and profitability globally. BWK’s strengths in functional
genomics and molecular breeding will make a major impact across
our entire product pipeline.”
Peking University and its affiliate, Peking University Weiming
Biotech Group Co., Ltd., are significant participants in the
joint venture through an ownership stake in BWK.
“We are excited to work with DuPont to advance research of
important agronomic traits for improving agricultural crop
production,” said Dr. Zhihong Xu, president of Peking
University. “Through this joint venture, we will be able to
expand our world-class research efforts to benefit farmers in
China and around the world.”
The joint venture will be managed by Dr. James H. Zhou, former
chief executive officer of BWK. Dr. Guihua Lu of DuPont Crop
Genetics has been appointed as deputy general manager and
technology manager.
“China has emphasized that its growth efforts need to place a
greater emphasis on sustainability and the environment,” said
Douglas Muzyka, president of DuPont Greater China and Du Pont
China Holding Co., Ltd. “Clearly, DuPont’s core values and
global strategies for growth align with China’s vision to
develop its agricultural sector and overall economy. This
research-focused joint venture will allow us to develop more
sustainable technologies to address the global challenges of
improving agricultural economics – enhancing farmers' quality of
life and securing the world’s food supply on a decreasing amount
of cultivatable land.”
Pioneer is the first major global seed business to have a
significant presence in key Chinese corn markets through two
previous joint ventures. Pioneer established a business
representative office in Beijing in 1997. A year later, it began
breeding and testing corn hybrids for commercialization in China
for the summer and spring corn areas. The first Pioneer corn
hybrids were approved for commercialization in 2002. Pioneer
established a summer corn joint venture, Shandong Denghai
Pioneer Seeds Co., Ltd., in late 2002. The first commercial
sales were in 2004, and the business has grown significantly
since. In 2006, Pioneer announced its second joint venture with
one of China’s largest seed production companies, Dunhuang Seed
Co., Ltd., to provide top-performing corn hybrids to Chinese
farmers in the spring market.
BWK was established in 2000 by four prestigious,
agribiotechnology-focused academic institutions and has
capabilities in functional genomics, trait gene and promoter
discovery and molecular breeding technologies for hybrid seeds.
BWK is engaged in the business of developing and delivering
biotech traits for crop productivity and improvement to the
Chinese markets.
Pioneer Hi-Bred , a DuPont business, 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
in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont is a science-based products and services 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 and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation. |
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