Pioneer Awards Growers "FlexFuel" Trucks

Three winners take home 2007 Chevrolet® trucks powered by E85 fuel blend

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 21, 2007 - Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., highlighted its commitment to biofuels recently by presenting three 2007 Chevrolet® Silverado® trucks to winners of its Technology That Fuels sweepstakes. The national sweepstakes is part of a program by Pioneer to promote biofuels and their importance in expanding agricultural markets. Each winner’s Silverado truck is powered by a FlexFuel Vortec 5.3L V8 engine, which develops maximum power from E85 ethanol fuel blend.

E85 ethanol fuel, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, is a cleaner-burning, renewable fuel source made primarily from corn.

The winning growers are: Shayne Kogel, Emmetsburg, Iowa; Gordon Mammel, Bay City, Mich.; and Gary Kuesel, Deshler, Ohio.

“We are excited for the winners receiving their new FlexFuel trucks, but, more importantly, we’re excited about the future of biofuels,” says Dean Oestreich, president of Pioneer. “Pioneer is a strong supporter of the biofuels industry. Our crop genetics research and development pipeline includes traits and technologies that help increase harvestable yield as well as ethanol production per acre to meet the growing demand for both ethanol and distillers grains.”

This sweepstakes is just one example of the company’s support for renewable fuels. Pioneer is working to enhance the productivity of the ethanol industry through a holistic approach targeted toward increasing ethanol yield per bushel and overall corn yield per acre. Nearly 180 Pioneer® brand HTF ethanol hybrids are part of the Pioneer IndustrySelect® program.

DuPont has a three-part biofuels strategy that includes improving the yield of grain ethanol through the research and technology expertise of Pioneer; developing technologies to convert other agricultural feedstocks and energy crops into biofuels; and discovering new technologies to make advanced biofuels with enhanced fuel properties.

"The world is demanding alternative energy options, and the agriculture industry is delivering, using science and technology to meet the challenge,” Oestreich says.