DuPont Pioneer and Perdue AgriBusiness announced plans to more than double acreage of Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybeans in Maryland, Delaware, southeast Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey for 2017.
This growth is driven by increasing demand for Plenish high oleic soybean oil by food companies and industrial products companies.
Farmers around Perdue locations across the Mid-Atlantic region will have the opportunity to produce Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybeans under contract and be eligible for a grain premium. Participating growers will be able to deliver grain to a participating elevator or directly to designated Perdue facilities for processing.
“Food manufacturers, the food service industry and industrial users are demanding more Plenish high oleic soybean oil every year,” said John Ade, Perdue AgriBusiness senior vice president. “Thanks to the expanding market for this improved soybean oil, we are able to more than double contracted acre production acres for 2017.”
Soybean growers who contract to grow Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybeans in the 2017 growing season will receive a 60 cent per bushel incentive for producing and storing the beans or a 50 cent per bushel premium for a harvest delivery contract.
“Since we started working with Perdue in 2013, grower interest in Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybeans has been exceptional,” said Cynthia Ericson, DuPont Pioneer commercial unit lead. “The varieties we offer for contracting provide the defensive characteristics and high yield potential area growers need to significantly improve income 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.
With 0g transfat per serving and 20 percent less saturated fat than commodity soybean oil, Plenish high oleic soybean oil provides a sustainable, U.S.-grown, soy-based, transfat alternative for food companies and foodservice operators. 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.
For food manufacturers, 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.
Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybean varieties are being developed with elite genetics using Pioneer’s Accelerated Yield Technology 4.0. Five years of field testing has confirmed yields are on par with similar elite commercial soybean varieties.
Traits included in Plenish high oleic soybean products have received regulatory approvals in nearly all key U.S. soybean export markets, and approvals are pending in remaining export markets. For more information on Plenish high oleic soybeans, visit www.plenish.com. Growers interested in learning more about the contracting opportunity can contact their local Pioneer sales representative or Perdue Agribusiness.
