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Collaborative Efforts
Mick Messman Director of the DuPont Seed Treatment Enterprise
Photo by John LaRose, Jr.
Pioneer Seeds Are Formulated To Solve Problems In The Fields
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER
MidAmerica Farmer Grower
JOHNSTON, IOWA
DuPont officially opened its Integrated Seed Science Center here recently. Mick Messman, director of the DuPont Seed Treatment Enterprise, spoke to the group, noting the center features experts and equipment that help DuPont deliver the right seed treatments for growers’ fields to optimize genetic performance of seeds.
This is the second facility in the DuPont Integrated Seed Science Network that is dedicated to developing and testing seed treatment formulations, applications and seed handling techniques. DuPont opened its first Integrated Seed Science Center in Wilmington, Del., in 2014 and a third facility is planned for South America.
“The seed science center will be instrumental in helping us deliver new, innovative products for our customer,” Messman said. “Our strategy here is really about collaborating to create innovative seed solutions for our customers. We do that three ways, one is through market driven science.”
By working with the Pioneer agronomy and technical teams to understand growers’ needs, not only today’s needs, but those that farmers may have five, or 10 years down the road, Pioneer is able to connect those needs and develop new, innovative technologies that provide more value for the customer.
“We also will bring innovative seed solutions to the farmer as a preferred collaborator, working closely with third party technology to help develop products for seed treatments and make them available through the DuPont Seed Treatment enterprise,” he said. “We’ll collaborate closely with farmers to understand their needs and we’ll also collaborate to ensure that our technology is broadly available to farmer customers.”
Thirdly, he said the company is committed to building state-of-the-art formulations that are compatible with multiple products, compatible with biological solutions so they work well both in a seed production facility as well as through customer planting equipment.
“We do that through the investment in the DuPont integrated seed science network which focuses on formulation, application, seed safety, plantability and overall bringing that unique and total seed solution together,” he said. “That seed solution is comprised not only of seed treatments, but also preferred genetics and traits that enable the farmer to plant the right product on the right acre.”
Some examples of recent launches of key products from the DuPont Seed Treatment Enterprise include the launch of Lumiderm insecticide that is offered on canola in Canada; Lumivia, an insecticide that is offered on corn in the United States; and also Dermacor, an insecticide that’s offered for farmers in Brazil to protect against helicoverpa.
The DuPont Seed Treatment Enterprise is uniquely positioned in the marketplace. Seed treatments are part of the total seed solution, an integrated solution for the farmer that includes functionality from genetics, traits and treatments.
“As a leader in market-driven science, we’ll work to bring those innovative seed solutions to the farmer,” he concluded. “As a leader in collaborations as well as assembling that final product, Pioneer provides the customer a positive experience, and continues to help them as they strive towards increased productivity.” ∆
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER: Senior Staff Writer, MidAmerica Farmer Grower
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