Biotech Updates

Genetic Diversity Will Help Solve Future Global Challenges

May 11, 2007

At the BIO 2007 International Convention, DuPont urged biotechnology leaders to ensure the availability of the genetic material needed to develop crops that will meet the unforeseen challenges of future generations. The company was one of the first to pledge $1 million to the Global Crop Diversity Trust, an international fund charged with securing long-term funding for the support of genebanks and crop genetic diversity collections throughout the world.

"As researchers in the public and private sector gain a better understanding of the genetic language of crops, we will be better suited to use the latest biotech tools, such as genomics and molecular markers, to develop solutions to the challenges of future generations," said Stephen Smith, a DuPont scientist and leading expert on plant genetic diversity. "If plant genetic resources are not properly conserved, it will be like learning how to read and then going to the library to find no books on the shelves."

Readers can access the news release at http://www.pioneer.com/web/site/portal/menuitem.82bf93a691ed7c66b771c663d10093a0/.