At the 2016 Farm Progress Show this week in central Iowa, DuPont Pioneer announced it is teaming up with CHS Inc. to offer farmers the opportunity to produce high oleic soybeans in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

The processing and food ingredients division of CHS will make production contracts for Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybeans for 2017 production available in these two areas. Contracted soybeans will be processed at the CHS plant at Fairmont, Minn. This will expand the footprint for high oleic soybean production, increasing grower access to this value-added market opportunity.

VALUE-ADDED: DuPont Pioneer and CHS announced a new high oleic soybean contracting program for Minnesota and Iowa. It expands Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybean production geography as demand grows for these specialty beans.

"CHS is focused on helping its farmer-owners grow, and this regional collaboration with Pioneer creates higher margin soybean markets," says Dave Mack, CHS director of Processing and Food Ingredients. "It also benefits CHS food ingredients customers by meeting consumer demand for healthy, versatile vegetable oils."

Farmers can contract with CHS to grow Pioneer Plenish soybeans

Farmers who contract with CHS to grow Pioneer brand soybeans with the Plenish high oleic soybean trait in the 2017 growing season will be eligible for a price premium on the beans produced. Additional program details including delivery information are available from CHS Minnesota soybean merchandisers and area Pioneer sales professionals.

"Plenish high oleic soybeans have been developed for this specific growing area and have outstanding yield and agronomic performance in the field," adds Jamie Williamson, DuPont Pioneer commercial unit lead. "We're pleased to be working with CHS to bring these higher-value soybeans to market in Minnesota and Iowa." 

Biotech can bring benefits to food industry, consumers, growers

“The development and commercialization of Plenish high oleic soybeans illustrates how biotechnology can provide direct benefits to the food industry and to consumers and growers,” Williamson adds.

With zero grams transfat per serving and 20% less saturated fat than commodity soybean oil, Plenish high oleic soybean oil provides a sustainable, U.S. grown, soy-based trans-fat alternative for food companies and foodservice operators. The improved fatty acid profile provides the highest oxidative stability level of any commercially produced soybean oil, says Williamson. Additionally, this enhanced stability means longer fry life in restaurant applications and less polymerized oil buildup on equipment, which reduces cleaning costs.

Oil’s stability extends shelf life for packaged food products

For food manufacturers, the high oleic 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 latest Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT) 4.0, says Williamson. Five years of field testing has confirmed yields are on par with similar elite commercial soybean varieties.

Traits in Plenish high oleic soybeans have been approved

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 plenish.com.