Corteva Agriscience invests 1.5 million dollars in its Research Center

In order to increase production capacity, optimize costs and generate jobs , Corteva Agriscience will invest 1.5 million dollars in its Research Center located in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco.

These laboratories of the agricultural company focused on the development of technologies and solutions for the agri-food sector , produce seeds that are used for different food improvement programs in the world and develop superior corn and sorghum hybrids, with high performance, stable and with the best agronomic characteristics.

Corteva  conducts research in more than 150 research and development facilities in 25 centers around the world and funding in Jalisco, is an effort to include this Research Center  in the global network of stations of the company dedicated to the production of experimental seeds with the most advanced technology and export them to Europe, Canada and the United States.

Ana Claudia Cerasoli, president of Corteva Agriscience Mesoandina Region, commented that the investment in this center will be for the construction and expansion of buildings, laboratories, land rental and hiring of Mexican talent.

"Tlajomulco will quadruple its production and from being a research center for the generation of corn products for the Mexican market, it will become a generator center for experimental corn seed for North America and Europe," he said.

Among other projects, the investment was used to:  

• Construction of a 912-square-meter laboratory for seed management. 
• Construction of a cold chamber, essential to regulate the temperature and relative humidity, and maintain the best conditions for the seed.
• Remodeling of the pathology laboratory to comply with all conditions, correct operation and compliance with phytosanitary certifications for export.
• Rent of land for growth of the nursery area from 78.5 that were in 2019 to 162.5 hectares.
• Hiring of human resources. Growth in the hiring of temporary workforce close to 500 contractors in the sowing and harvesting months. Hiring in research positions is local talent specializing in biological sciences, agronomy, biotechnology and science.
• Remodeling of the offices to increase the space that will house more people from the research team. 

TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS A DIGITAL AGRICULTURE

Corteva combines the experience and knowledge of farmers, the broad and deep knowledge of agronomists, scientists and industry partners to develop better products in less time, using data science and computer science to increase and protect crop yields. and improve resource efficiency.

Around the world, it works to create smart farms  through the application of digital data and scientific and technological innovation, and Tlajomulco is no exception. With this investment, the Research Center applies technology to understand in real time what is happening with the seeds, the fields and their yield. 

Currently some of the practices carried out in Tlajomulco are:

• Use of machine learning and statistical analysis to understand spatial variation in data.
• Use of specialized software for: vehicle inspections and people control, soil fertility and disease analysis
• Use of the technology created and patented by DuPont "Ear photometry" to collect data from the ears.
• Use of drones to collect phenotypic data and optimize crop resources.

The objective of Corteva is to help producers in the task of producing safe, nutritious and quality food, and thus, solving the world's food problems through innovation and technology; With the investment, the company will contribute advances through technology and Mexican talent to meet the high demand worldwide. 

In addition to Jalisco, the company has four other research centers in Mexico located in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit; Cortazar, Guanajuato; Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas and in Los Mochis, Sinaloa.