DuPont Pioneer, Bunge announce 2018 High Oleic Soybean Contracting Program

Date:03-06-2018

DuPont Pioneer announced today that processor-paid premiums will be offered for Pioneer® brand Plenish® high oleic soybeans contracted for the 2018 growing season in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. Soybeans contracted under this program will be processed by Bunge in Delphos and Bellevue, Ohio, and their network of locations, providing growers with access to this value-added market opportunity.

“Plenish® high oleic soybean oil provides companies and foodservice operators a sustainable, U.S.-grown, soy-based trans-fat alternative with 0 grams trans-fat per serving and 20 percent less saturated fat than commodity soybean oil,” said Mike Lund, vice president, Product Management for Bunge.

Farmers who contract to grow Plenish® high oleic soybeans in the 2018 growing season will receive a 40 cent per bushel incentive for producing the soybeans for buyers call. There are a limited number of acres in the 2018 program.

“The DuPont Pioneer research and development team in Indiana and Ohio have developed Plenish® high oleic soybeans with high yield potential, strong agronomics and the maturities local farmers need,” said Ben Kaehler, commercial lead, DuPont Pioneer. “We’re pleased to be working with Bunge to offer these higher-value soybeans to growers. The processor-paid premium makes them an attractive choice for those who are looking to boost profitability per acre.”

The development and commercialization of Plenish® high oleic soybeans illustrates how biotechnology can provide direct benefits to the food industry, consumers and growers.

The improved fatty acid profile provides the highest oxidative stability level of any commercially produced soybean oil. Additionally, this enhanced stability means longer fry life in restaurant applications and less polymerized oil buildup on equipment, which reduces cleaning costs.

The oil’s stability extends the shelf life for packaged food products without sacrificing flavor and eliminates the need for artificial preservatives, creating the opportunity for a cleaner ingredient label.

Plenish® high oleic soybean oil’s exceptional stability also allows it to be utilized by the chemical industry as a renewable, environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based products.

Pioneer® brand Plenish® high oleic soybean varieties are being developed with elite genetics using Pioneer’s Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT) 4.0. Multiple years of local testing has confirmed yields are on par with similar elite commercial soybean varieties.

Pioneer® brand Plenish® high oleic soybeans are now approved for export to a number of U.S. soybean export markets. They most recently received import approval in Europe. For more information on Plenish® high oleic soybeans, visit www.plenish.com.