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US-based science products and services firm DuPont announced on Wednesday start of its first plant biotech research centre outside US in Hyderabad to develop high-yielding hybrid seeds that would help farmer improve crop productivity and profitability.
DuPont, which offers a wide range of products and services for markets including agriculture, building and construction, communications and transportation, had last month announced an investment of over Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) to set up its first research and development centre- DuPont Knowledge Centre- in Hyderabad.
"Twenty crop genetics scientists have already begun working out of leased facilities near the site where the new Rs 100 crore DuPont Knowledge Centre is to be built," DuPont India President and CEO Balvinder S Kalsi told reporters in New Delhi.
On the progress made in establishing Knowledge Centre and further investment in it, Kalsi said: "We will spend over Rs 100 crore to build the infrastructure of the R&D facility. We will incur similar amount every year on maintaining the R&D centre as recurring expense."
Construction of the centre, that is expected to accommodate more than 300 scientists, is expected to get completed by first quarter of 2008, he added.
Giving detail about the plant biotech research centre, Kalsi said number of crop genetics scientists on site would grow to nearly 100, which is part of Dupont's $100 million investment plan to increase its speed to reach market with new seed products.
Plant biotech scientists would move into Knowledge Centre when it gets completed, he added. (PTI)
Richard Broglie, director, global R&D Strategy for Crop Genetics Research and Development of DuPont, with DuPont India CEO Balvinder Singh Kalsi address a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Photograph: Dijeshwar Singh/Saab Pictures