DuPont to set up plant biotech research centre in Hyderabad

Mumbai: DuPont will set up a plant biotech research centre at the company's proposed knowledge centre in Hyderabad, its first such facility outside the US.

The $20 million DuPont Knowledge Center is part of the company's $100 million reinvestment plan. It will focus on crop genetics to aid in the production of advanced seed products.

DuPont currently has 20 crop genetics scientists working at a temporary facility near the planned site. The company expects the number of crop genetics scientists to grow to approximately 100 by year-end.

"The global demand for agricultural crops is very strong. We have the science to help farmers and others across the value chain and this research centre is going to help us do that faster,'' said William Niebur, vice president, DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development, in a release.

Plant biotech scientists here will develop biotech traits and technologies that will be incorporated into multiple crops for markets the world over.

The trait discovery work conducted on site will help create advanced seed products to meet the growing global demand for increased food production, improved animal feed products and expanding energy needs, Niebur said.

DuPont has major plant biotech research centres in Delaware, Iowa and California along with 90 plant genetics research centres around the globe.

DuPont is also setting up a technical centre near Moscow to support the use of the company's titanium dioxide products.

The centre is expected to house research programmes for chemical solutions enterprise; surfaces; titanium technologies; and performance coatings businesses, among others.

DuPont Titanium Technologies is the world's largest manufacturer of titanium dioxide, providing solutions for the coatings, paper and plastics industries.

The project, its largest outside the US, will involve total investments of an estimated $1 billion.