By For Immediate Release
Mindy Williamson, Iowa Corn Communications & PR Director, 515-225-9242
Karla Roeber, VP Public and Government Affairs, Danforth Plant Science Center, 314-587-1231
Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Announce Research Cooperation
Johnston, Jan 6, 2013- The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Danforth Center), in St. Louis, Missouri, have announced a formal research cooperation to explore opportunities for innovation in nutrient utilization for Iowa's corn farmers. The research cooperation has a goal of developing traits that will be used to improve farmer productivity and manage nutrients responsibly, which ICPB has identified as a priority area for research.
"We are very pleased to partner with the Danforth Center. We are confident this cooperation will further strengthen the role of corn as the major US crop in a way that is environmentally sustainable," said Rodney Williamson, Director of Research and Business Development of ICPB . "Corn growers have a proven track record of impressive productivity gains from utilizing new technologies and research through this cooperation has the potential to contribute to future corn production success."
This is a partnership which offers reciprocal benefits. ICPB intends to commercialize results benefiting corn farmers while sharing technologies with the Danforth Center to support their efforts to improve the productivity and nutritional value of food security crops and to advance delivery to underserved regions of the world.
Paul Anderson, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for International Crop Improvement at the Danforth Center, added "We are grateful for this opportunity to participate in corn improvement research for the benefit of Iowa's farmers, as well as to be able to leverage technology for humanitarian-based improvement of orphan food security crops in African countries."
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About The Iowa Corn Promotion Board
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) works to develop and defend markets, fund research, and provide education about corn and corn products. ICPB invests funds in research for a direct return on Iowa Corn farmer investment. The ICPB research program aims to develops approaches to produce corn more efficiently and in a sustainable manner, and to find new and innovative uses of corn, such as plastics and industrial chemicals. For more information, visit www.iowacorn.org.
About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research aims to feed the hungry and improve human health, preserve and renew the environment and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science. The Center's work is funded through competitive grants and contract revenue from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates and Howard G. Buffett Foundations.www.danforthcenter.org.
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