Seed corn company opens
research facility on Kauai

By Anthony Sommer
Star-Bulletin

WAIMEA, Kauai -- Pioneer Hybrid International formally has opened its $24 million Kauai research facility.

The 40,000-square-foot facility -- which includes a hurricane-proof room for data storage -- will focus on new hybrid seeds for corn, soybean and sunflower, primarily for animal feed. It employs about 35.

Pioneer is the largest seed corn company in the United States. It has been developing genetically engineered crops that resist insects and drought while providing more oils and other nutrients.

"It used to take two years to develop a new hybrid because of single growing seasons. On Kauai, we have multiple growing seasons each year," said research coordinator Paul Hepperly.

Hepperly said the seed business is highly competitive -- several other major seed companies have seed farms in Hawaii -- and Pioneer has to continually offer improved products if it wants to keep its customers.

Pioneer has been conducting limited research at its seed corn farms in Kekaha and Koloa, but producing seed was the primary goal at each location. The opening of the separate research facility marks a new emphasis on developing new seeds in Hawaii.

"It's been kind of a stealth effort in the past. But with this new facility located right on the highway across from the Russian Fort (State Park), we've suddenly become quite visible," Hepperly said.

Pioneer has been on Kauai since 1968, when it first leased 15 acres from Kekaha Sugar Co. It now leases several thousand acres on Kauai and recently began work on a seed plant in Waialua on Oahu.