Investor Presentaiton
A HISTORY OF INNOVATION
When commercial hybrid maize was first introduced, few people realized its potential to increase the world's
agricultural productivity. Hybrid maize breeding originated in 1909, primarily through the innovative research
of Dr. G.H. Shull, a scientist at the Carnegie Institute in Washington, D.C. A few years later, a young central
Iowan named Henry A. Wallace studied the work of Shull and others, and began his own experiments. In
1926, Wallace's backyard maize breeding experiments led to the birth of the Hi-Bred Corn Company, the
first company to develop, produce and market hybrid maize. The company eventually became known as
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Now a DuPont subsidiary, Pioneer is the world's leading developer
and supplier of advanced plant genetics to farmers worldwide.
The very phenomenon that captured Henry Wallace's attention is what makes hybrid maize valuable
to growers today. Hybrid maize development improves farmers' productivity and helps ensure a
reliable, sustainable food supply. Pioneer researchers have been making innovative breakthroughs
in hybrid maize improvement throughout the company's history.
Trends for maize yields in much of the U.S. Corn
Belt show yield increases of 1.5 to 2 bushels per
acre, per year since the 1950s. Much of the increase
can be attributed to improved genetics through
innovative plant breeding, and Pioneer researchers
have played a key role in this progress.
During the 75-year history of the company,
researchers at Pioneer have developed the largest,
most diverse and highest quality collection of
maize ermplasm, or corn genetics, in the industry.
Pioneer researchers also were the first in the
industry to apply genomics to crop improvement.
Genomics is a science that helps researchers
better understand the function of maize genes.
U.S. Average Maize Yields 1900 - 2000
Bushels Per Acre
160
140
120
100
80
60
Open Pollinated Varieties
Single Cross Hybrids
40
20
20
0
Double Cross Hybrids
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Year
Yield trends in the United States have steadily increased
since hybrids were first commercialized.View entire presentation