DuPont Pioneer and CHS Inc. (CHS) announced Aug. 29 that CHS Processing and Food Ingredients will offer production contracts for Pioneer^® brand Plenish^® high oleic soybeans for 2017 production in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Contracted soybeans will be processed at the CHS Fairmont, Minn., plant and expand the footprint for high oleic soybean production, increasing grower access to this value-added market opportunity.

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

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 grain premium. 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,” said 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.”

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

With 0g transfat per serving and 20 percent 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. Additionally, this enhanced stability means longer fry life in restaurant applications and less polymerized oil buildup on equipment, which reduces cleaning costs.

For food manufacturers, the 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.  Five years of field testing has confirmed yields are on par with similar elite commercial soybean varieties.

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 www.plenish.com.

The United Soybean Board (USB) has invested soybean checkoff dollars into the research and development of high oleic soybeans.