Investor Presentaiton
10
Plant breeding is, in part, a numbers game: The more genetic combinations that are tested,
the greater the odds of developing improved products faster. Researchers can maximize genetic
progress throughout the development process by making breeding selections based on genotype,
the combination of genes that make up a hybrid, and phenotype, the observed measurement of
those genes in a given environment.
To advance new products to customers more quickly, researchers use specialized equipment
to plant, harvest and evaluate more test rows at once. Also, Pioneer uses a global network of
off-season nurseries to shave years off the product development process. These facilities are
in warm climates where multiple generations of maize can be grown and evaluated each year.
This helps get new, high performing, thoroughly tested products into customers' hands faster.
Furthermore, since product performance varies in different environments, researchers also
are working with technologies to help them better predict product performance in various
environments. These technologies, combined with superior genetics, will aid researchers in
"custom-building" hybrids for customers' environments.View entire presentation