Howard G. Buffett Foundation Teams with DuPont and The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to Deliver Nutritionally Enhanced Sorghum to Africa

Online, May 4, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and DuPont today announced a $4 million grant from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to bring healthier sorghum to underserved communities in Africa.

The grant will help fund the completion of the development of biofortified sorghum, a more nutritious and digestible sorghum for Africans who depend upon sorghum as their staple diet. DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred began working on the project in 2005 in conjunction with the African Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) Consortium, an Africa-led public-private partnership. The ABS Consortium is a key partner in this project and will work to secure regulatory approvals and pursue production and deployment plans as Pioneer and Danforth complete product development.

Sorghum is a cereal that has many characteristics comparable to corn. However, unlike corn, sorghum is naturally drought tolerant. It provides calories and minimal nutrition in dry areas of Africa such as in the Sahel, the area of Africa just south of the Sahara desert. The sorghum nutritional improvement project will permit greater levels of essential nutrients to be delivered to those who live in arid places where sorghum is relied upon as the staple food source. Additionally, the biofortified sorghum may become important in new geographies as a result of the effects of climate change.

The project focuses on increased zinc and iron bioavailability through phytate reduction, improved protein digestibility and increased pro-vitamin A levels. These key nutrients and micronutrients aid in child development, and reduce rates of diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, lower respiratory tract infections and curb Vitamin A deficiency, which is the leading cause of acquired blindness in children in the developing world.

"Improving the nutrition of this staple crop has the potential to change the lives of more than 300 million Africans," said Howard G. Buffett, president of the Foundation. "I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of malnutrition. I have a personal commitment to see that healthier sorghum gets to the people of Africa."

The introduction of biofortified sorghum is expected to have a major impact on the health and life of targeted communities in Africa - not only by offering improved nutrition, but by providing the sorghum at minimal cost to growers. Biofortified sorghum will be distributed to underserved communities in multiple African countries, royalty free.

"The collaboration between Buffett, Danforth and DuPont is a powerful example of the ability of public-private partnerships to accelerate innovation to solve problems," said Paul E. Schickler, president - Pioneer Hi-Bred. "We are just a few short years away from getting nutritionally improved sorghum into the hands of those who need it most."

Pioneer is the lead technology provider and the Danforth Center will provide monitoring, evaluation and financial oversight with respect to the project milestones.

"We are very pleased to facilitate the funding of this valuable project in order to advance its development," said Paul Anderson, executive director, Office of International Programs, Danforth Plant Science Center. "We have a strong interest in seeing sorghum make a greater contribution to the health and livelihood of African farmers."

About the Howard G. Buffett Foundation

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation funds humanitarian activities focused on agriculture, nutrition, water and conservation. In Africa, the Foundation is helping address food and agriculture needs of farmers through specific research initiatives and innovative programs such as local purchase for food assistance needs.

About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has quickly grown to become the world's largest not-for-profit independent research institute dedicated to plant science. Scientists at the Center are engaged in research that strives to enhance the nutritional content of plants, increase agricultural production to create a sustainable food supply, reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizer, develop new and sustainable biofuels, and generate scientific ideas and technologies that will contribute to the economic growth of the St. Louis region. The research projects of the Center are 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 and the Bill & Melinda Gates and Buffett Foundations. The first phase of the sorghum project is one of the four projects supported by the Danforth Center's Biosafety Resources Network (BRN), which oversees necessary activities related to quality assurance, biosafety science and regulatory science. These activities set the stage for delivering enhanced food crops that can improve the nutrition of people in the developing countries of Africa and Asia.

About Pioneer Hi-Bred and Dupont
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success™.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 90 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
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5/4/11
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