Proprietary hybrid system marks crucial step-change, expected
to deliver new floor for future growth in wheat yield,
productivity
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In advance of its Investor
Day, Corteva today announced a revolutionary breakthrough in
one of the world's most important staple crops – wheat – a
first-of-its kind, proprietary non-GMO hybrid technology. While
other crops like corn have exponentially benefited from hybrid
technology over the years, challenges with wheat production systems
have presented barriers to consistently and cost-effectively
leveraging such game-changing technology – ultimately limiting the
ability to deliver meaningful yield improvements.
Corteva's breakthrough hybrid wheat technology could:
- Increase yield potential by 10%1, while
using the same amount of land and resources, providing
significant promise for both farmers and global food security;
- Be more resistant to drought: research trials show
Corteva's hybrid wheat can yield roughly 20%
higher2 than elite varieties in water-stressed
environments, which would help farmers better adapt to the impacts
of a changing climate.
- Accelerate the speed to market of new elite
germplasm by increasing the scale of parent seed production over
competitors' technology.
"Pioneer introduced hybrid corn in the 1920s, and since then our
technology has helped achieve more than 600% increases in average
yields3," said Corteva Chief Technology and Digital
Officer Sam Eathington. "With our
new, one-of-a-kind proprietary technology for wheat, we're now
similarly poised to bring the revolutionary benefits and yield
potential of hybridization to yet another core crop."
Hybrid seeds are created by crossing two genetically different
parents – to ultimately produce more resilient, higher yielding
plants for farmers. Unlike other wheat hybridization systems which
rely on older technology, Corteva's all-new proprietary
technology has been shown in trials to work in 100% of wheat
germplasm -- enabling more rapid genetic gains and delivery of seed
at a commercial scale.
Cultivated for over 10,000 years, wheat is grown on about 550
million acres, providing food for hundreds of millions of people
and accounting for 20% of calories consumed worldwide. Wheat is the
third largest row crop In North America, grown on more than 60
million acres.
Corteva plans to launch hybrid Hard Red Winter wheat as early as
2027 in North America, adding to
its portfolio over time.
About Corteva Agriscience
Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a global pure-play agriculture
company that combines industry-leading innovation, high-touch
customer engagement and operational execution to profitably deliver
solutions for the world's most pressing agriculture challenges.
Corteva generates advantaged market preference through its unique
distribution strategy, together with its balanced and globally
diverse mix of seed and crop protection products and services. With
some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and a technology
pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed
to maximizing productivity for farmers, while working with
stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise
to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume,
ensuring progress for generations to come. More information can be
found at www.corteva.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain estimates and
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which are intended to be
covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking
statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, and may be identified by their use of words like
"could," "potential," "may," "plans," "expects," "will,"
"anticipates," "believes," "intends," or other words of similar
meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections
about the future, including statements about Corteva's expectations
related to regulatory approvals, product development and
commercialization, product offerings and product, financial or
sustainability performance are forward-looking statements. Corteva
disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable
law. A detailed discussion of some of the significant risks and
uncertainties which may cause results and events to differ
materially from such forward-looking statements or other estimates
is included in the "Risk Factors" section of Corteva's Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and as modified by subsequent reports on Form
10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
1 Internal yield trial testing; 2 years of testing
with 6-10 locations/year in each of the market classes. Hard Red
Winter testing in NE, KS, CO, OK.
2 Internal yield trial testing; 2 years of testing
with 6-10 locations/year in each of the market classes. Hard Red
Winter testing in NE, KS, CO, OK.
3 Assumes average corn yields in the 1920s of roughly
26 bu/A (according to the Plant & Soil Sciences eLibrary at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and
average corn yield in 2023 of roughly 183 bu/A (according to USDA
data) and yields on Pioneer corn hybrids commonly reaching 200 bu/A
and more.
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SOURCE Corteva, Inc.