Dupont to open $40 million seed facility in Ukraine

DuPont opened its seed production facility in Stasi, Dykanka region, Poltava oblast, Ukraine, helping Ukrainian farmers increase their productivity.

The $40 million production facility is operational in time for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, supporting the increased customer demand for Pioneer® brand maize, sunflower and oilseed rape hybrids in Ukraine.

“This investment demonstrates DuPont’s ongoing commitment to help meet the world’s growing demand for nutritious food,” said James C. Borel, executive vice president, DuPont.  “This facility, built in one of the most productive maize and sunflower growing regions of the world, will provide Ukrainian farmers with superior products to meet their needs.”

The DuPont Pioneer production facility, together with the logistics facility built in Stasi two years ago, employs approximately 70 employees to support the warehousing, timely distribution and production of about 500,000 units of Pioneer® brand maize and sunflower hybrids.

“DuPont Pioneer continues to work with farmers in Ukraine and Russia to ensure a stable supply of locally produced, high-quality sunflower and maize to meet the growing demand of these important agricultural crops,” said Jeff Rowe, regional director, DuPont Pioneer Europe.

DuPont Pioneer is the market leader in Ukraine for maize hybrids and continues to grow its sunflower and oilseed rape hybrid business. In addition to the Stasi personnel, DuPont Pioneer currently employs about 150 employees in Ukraine including more than 70 field sales agronomists promoting Pioneer® brand products throughout Ukraine.

“This investment shows our commitment with the country.  We want to be recognized as a key player in developing the Ukrainian agricultural sector, but we cannot do that alone and therefore we look forward to collaborating with local stakeholders.  Our future success and investments also will depend on the appropriate regulatory, political and agricultural production environment as we strive to be a reliable partner for our customers and for the Ukrainian government to support its ambitious goal of almost doubling grain production in Ukraine,” concluded Rowe.