"The global demand for agricultural crops is very strong. We have the science to help farmers and this research centre is going to help us do that faster," Richard Goodmanson, chief operating officer of DuPont, told mediapersons.
The DKC is being set up on 15 acres in the ICICI Knowledge Park. This will be the sixth DuPont R&D facility outside the US.
The centre, which will include biotechnology laboratories, materials research laboratories, engineering design centre, high-end information technology capabilities, will also house the company's first plant biotech research centre outside the US.
According to Goodmanson, 20 DuPont crop genetics scientists had already begun working out of leased facilities near the project site. The company expects the number of crop genetics scientists on site to grow to nearly 100 by this year-end.
"The
plant biotech scientists will move into the DKC when it is completed. The company has lined up a $100-million global reinvestment plan and a major chunk of this will be infused into Pioneers' research centre at DKC," he said.
The plant biotech scientists at the DKC will develop biotech traits and technologies that will be incorporated into multiple crops for markets the world over, he added.
The trait discovery work conducted on site will help create advanced seed products to meet the growing global demand for increased food production, improved animal feed products and expanding energy needs, he added.
"We will invest over Rs 100 crore in the DKC, excluding equipment and running expenditures.
The centre, which is expected to be built and operational in the next 12 months, will accommodate over 300 scientists and engineers in the first year of operation, and the number is expected to double in the next three to five years. We will start seeing tangible results coming out of this centre in less than five years," he said.
