DuPont to Help Meet Growing Demand for Plant Breeders

Partnership with Purdue University Develops Scientists to Address Global Demand for Grain

DuPont today announced a $150,000 pledge to Purdue University to help graduate students with an interest in plant breeding and genetics research.

“The potential for solutions from crop genetics research to meet global demands for food, feed, fuel and materials continues to grow,” said William S. Niebur, vice president, DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development. “This presents a tremendous opportunity for highly trained, well-educated plant breeders and scientists to be on the cutting edge of significant research.”

Beginning this year, DuPont will provide two, $25,000 fellowships to support graduate students in the Department of Agronomy at Purdue. The fellowships, which will be administered by DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, are renewable each year through 2009. Purdue also will provide matching funds for a total of $300,000 over three years.

“The world has come to recognize the incredible potential for plant genetics to help solve global challenges,” said Niebur. “We need to make sure we have the best and brightest working to develop these solutions.”

Earlier this year, DuPont announced the expansion of its research capacity and addition of more than 400 positions, primarily focused on seed and biotechnology research, including plant breeding.

Research and educational programs in Purdue’s Department of Agronomy center on four broad areas of emphasis, including genetic improvement of economic crops and crop systems, and plant nutrition.

“Educating successive generations of plant breeders and geneticists depends on our ability to continue to provide excellent scientific and educational programs,” said Craig Beyrouty, Agronomy Department Head at Purdue. “This support from DuPont will extend and complement our capacity to provide highly educated and trained plant breeders for the future.”