CHS Inc., an industry leader in hybrid sunflower seed development, has obtained exclusive breeding and distribution rights to the Corteva Agriscience confectionary sunflower and conoil sunflower programs in North America.

This will expand the number of sunflower hybrids available to CHS contract growers and farmer-owners and provide more high-value market opportunities.

"By expanding our sunflower breeding program, we are working to ensure our owners have the highest quality seeds to grow their businesses and meet the ever-changing tastes of sunflower seed consumers," says Joel Schaefer, CHS Sunflower research director.

Corteva sunflower variety nomenclature will remain the same but will be rebranded under the CHS Royal Hybrid brand.

"CHS intends to maintain and grow relationships with processors, retailers and growers who have relied on Corteva's confectionary sunflower breeding program for years," Schaefer says.

"This agreement allows North America sunflower customers to continue to have a reliable supply of high-quality confection and conoil hybrids to meet consumer needs for snacking sunflower seeds and confection sunflower oils," says Larry Robertson, Corteva Agriscience global sunflower portfolio leader. "It also aligns with our strategy to focus and prioritize our breeding investment in broad-acre sunflower products globally."

For the 2020 growing season, Corteva Agriscience conoil hybrid sunflower seeds will be marketed directly through CHS Sunflower and select CHS retail locations. Beginning in 2021, CHS will add the full portfolio of Corteva Agriscience confectionary sunflower seed to its Royal Hybrid line up.

For more than half a century, CHS has researched, developed, tested and distributed hybrid sunflower seeds. CHS is the only major sunflower processor that maintains its own hybrid seed division.

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