DuPont goal: better beans, more jobs

DuPont is investing millions of dollars in hopes of building a better soybean.

Governor Jack Markell and DuPont announced Thursday that DuPont plans to invest more than $50 million over five years to expand its biotech soybean research and development program.

The proposed investment will include expanding and improving biotech research facilities at DuPont’s Experimental Station in Wilmington and at its Stine Haskell Research Center in Newark.

“For generations, DuPont has helped shape our state’s reputation as a cradle of innovation. Their investment will help expand both that reputation and, more importantly, their work force,” Markell said.

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The proposed expansion is expected to add 75 new, full-time jobs in Delaware by the end of 2015.

 

“This plan includes a significant expansion of our overall biotech research effort,” said John Bedbrook, vice president – DuPont Agricultural Biotechnology. “It would increase the speed at which we can bring new products to the market and help farmers around the world increase yields through tolerance to environmental stresses, insects and disease.”

The expansion plan includes new soybean research laboratories, tissue culture facilities, environmentally controlled growth rooms and greenhouses, which not only benefit soybean R&D efforts but also extend research resources for other core crops.

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