Page 44 - Innovation Delaware 2018

BY MATT WARD
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AGRICULTURE
ACutting-Edge Research Supports Local Companies’ Investments in Growth
griculture — from farming to food DuPont has long been a major player in agricultural production — has long been a mainstay research, and following the merger with The Dow of Delaware’s economy. It’s the state’s Chemical Company, its agricultural business will remain single largest land use, with just under 40 in Delaware under the name Corteva Agriscience. percent of land devoted to agricultural DuPont’s work in plant breeding has for years allowed
production. And thanks to support from Delaware’s farmers in Delaware and beyond to select the most
solid research infrastructure, both at the corporate and university level, First State farmers benefit from the latest innovative advances in seeding, insect management and yield improvement.
To name just one example, researchers at the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture & Natural Resources have created and patented a beneficial microbe designed to protect seedlings — it’s now used in a new biofungicide sold by chemical giant BASF. Meanwhile, Delaware State University’s College of Agriculture & Related Sciences is exploring new techniques for pest management and runoff control. 42 DelawareBusinessTimes.com
desirable characteristics for crops and improve yields. Much of Delaware’s farmland is dedicated to commodity crops like corn, soy and wheat — largely in support of the poultry industry. Big poultry producers like Perdue Farms and Allen Harim Foods continue to be at the forefront of an industry-wide innovation trend: moving to antibiotic-free practices. Recently, both of those firms have also been investing in their local operations. Perdue, which has 6,000 employees in Delaware, made infrastructure improvements at its Milford and Georgetown harvest plants; Allen Harim is building a new hatchery in Dagsboro, has expanded