Dow AgroSciences' seed quality control laboratory to expand

As part of its ongoing commitment to grow and expand its branded seed business, Dow AgroSciences announced today it will relocate its Seed Quality Control Lab to a larger laboratory site at the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, Indiana.

This move is part of Dow AgroSciences’ overall business growth strategy and continued investment in its global Seeds business. In March 2010, Dow AgroSciences announced a five-year expansion plan in Indiana, including a 175,000 square foot research building and a 14,000 square foot greenhouse in Indianapolis focused on plant biotechnology capabilities to advance the company’s R&D discovery efforts.

The Purdue Research Park lab facility will enable the future capacity and capabilities needed to support the growing Dow AgroSciences Seeds business, as well as serve as a proving ground for its next generation technologies. Additionally, the new lab facility will allow for the implementation of additional testing technology and capabilities, future expansion opportunities, and closer collaboration with scientists at Dow AgroSciences’ Indianapolis global headquarters.

All current Dow AgroSciences quality control lab employees based in Marshalltown, Iowa, will be offered an opportunity at the new Indiana based lab. The transition of programs and people will begin after construction of the new facility is completed in the third quarter of 2011. The relocation is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2012.

In addition, the Dow AgroSciences seed corn production facility also located in Marshalltown will be expanding at its current location and continue to handle seed corn production, packaging and shipping.

The new lab facility will be an addition to the current Dow AgroSciences presence at the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, which includes a 15,000 square foot research and development space and an 11,000 square foot greenhouse complex leased by Dow AgroSciences for life sciences research. To help fund the life sciences research project in 2010, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation provided a $2.2 million grant to the Purdue Research Foundation to assist in the construction of the greenhouse.