Iowa corn growers could someday see better yields thanks to research being funded by Asian cigarette smokers. Johnston-based Pioneer Hi-bred International has entered into a research agreement with Japan Tobacco. Pioneer’s Jim Miller, vice president of crop genetics research and development, says the collaboration could produce valuable data for corn growers across Iowa and the region.Miller says “Japan Tobacco has an interesting and proprietary set of technologies around identifying genes in crops distantly related to corn that we think we can combine with our technology to, over the next few years, enhance the yield of corn and perhaps even soybeans.” Despite the company’s name, Miller says the agreement Pioneer has entered with Japan Tobacco deals primarily with comparing data on corn and rice, not tobacco. Miller says the collaboration has “little or nothing” to do with tobacco. The species involved are corn, rice and several grasses, not tobacco. Japan Tobacco is the world’s third-largest international manufacturer of tobacco products, making brands including Camel, Winston, Mild Seven and Salem. Miller admits, it is a rather unusual pairing. The company makes most of its money from tobacco but it’s investing the revenues in research directed at food crops, and Miller says the opportunities and discoveries could someday come home to Iowa to help farmers. Pioneer is already considered a world leader in agricultural plant genetics and Miller says it’s anticipated the knowledge gained through this relationship will help Pioneer achieve its goal of doubling the rate of yield gain by the year 2014. He says they have yet to develop a “perfect” corn plant. He says every year, new examples are shown as to the weather crops can be exposed to, including changing soil conditions, heat, cold, wet, drought, insects or no insects. Miller says “We’re always looking for opportunities to enhance the genetic potential of the crops and it’s amazing where we find those opportunities.” Miller says “Yield is one of the most important agronomic traits for farmers around the world and it’s a top priority in our research program.”
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