CHS obtains exclusive rights to Corteva Agriscience confectionary sunflower breeding program in North America

CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP), an industry leader in hybrid sunflower seed development, today announced that it has obtained exclusive breeding and distribution rights to the Corteva Agriscience confectionary sunflower and conoil sunflower programs in North America.

This will expand the number of sunflower hybrids available to CHS contract growers and farmer-owners and provide more high-value market opportunities.

"By expanding our sunflower breeding program, we are working to ensure our owners have the highest quality seeds to grow their businesses and meet the ever-changing tastes of sunflower seed consumers," said Joel Schaefer, CHS Sunflower research director.

Corteva sunflower variety nomenclature will remain constant, but will be rebranded under the CHS Royal Hybrid® brand. "CHS intends to maintain and grow relationships with processors, retailers and growers who have relied on Corteva's confectionary sunflower breeding program for years," said Schaefer.

"This agreement allows North America sunflower customers to continue to have a reliable supply of high-quality confection and conoil hybrids to meet consumer needs for snacking sunflower seeds and confection sunflower oils," said Larry Robertson, Corteva Agriscience global sunflower portfolio leader. "It also aligns with our strategy to focus and prioritize our breeding investment in broad-acre sunflower products globally."

For the 2020 growing season, Corteva Agriscience conoil hybrid sunflower seeds will be marketed directly through CHS Sunflower and select CHS retail locations. Beginning in 2021, CHS will add the full portfolio of Corteva Agriscience confectionary sunflower seed to the Royal Hybrid line up.

For more than half a century, CHS has researched, developed, tested and distributed hybrid sunflower seeds. CHS is the only major sunflower processor that maintains its own hybrid seed division.

CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping its farmer-owners, customers and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, seed, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.