DuPont Partnership to Increase Productivity, Meet Growing Global Demand for Rice

DuPont and the Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR) announced an agreement yesterday that grants DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred access to test and commercialize ICRR rice hybrids in Asia.

Rice is the most important staple food for more than half of the world’s population. The growing population in Asia is driving pressure to improve rice yields to meet the increasing demand for food.

The agreement grants Pioneer access to several ICRR inbreds and hybrids for evaluation and testing, and the exclusive right to commercialize any new selected hybrids. ICRR will be paid a royalty to support their research and development efforts for any hybrids Pioneer commercializes. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to collaborate with the world-class public rice breeding program at the ICRR to help meet the increasing demand for rice,” said Bill Niebur, vice president, DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development. “This partnership will help leverage our expertise as the leader in advanced plant genetics breeding and development to improve nutrition, standards of living and overall agricultural productivity.”