Valent opens Midwest in-field research facility

SEYMOUR, Ill. — A new 77-acre site dedicated to large-scale testing of research pipeline and commercial technologies for Midwestern crops opened July 18.

Valent U.S.A. Corp.’s Midwest Agricultural Research Center is part of the company’s broader business strategy to accelerate its research and development program in North America.

The facility will support corn, soybean, wheat, alfalfa, sugar beets, canola and pumpkin in-field research.

In addition, the MWARC features a commercial building, training conference center, learning lab, fully equipped commercial seed treatment system provided through a partnership with USC and a 2,000 square foot greenhouse.

Key projects slated for the MWARC are seed protection and enhancements; in-furrow technology for the rhizosphere; PPO herbicide technology; plant growth regulatory technology; and novel delivery technology.

Valent products include a line of herbicide, insecticide, fungicide and plant growth regulator products for agricultural, seed protection and professional use.

The grand opening included talks from company leaders, a demonstration of the seed treatment system and a field tour.

What They Said:

Ray Nishimoto, representative director

and senior managing executive officer

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Valent’s parent company

“We continue to grow and we continue to invest in global research and development. Our mission is to provide more food, feed, fiber and fuel in a sustainable way and protect and improve the quality of life and environment while meeting global demand.”

Andy Lee, president and CEO

Valent U.S.A Corp. and Valent BioSciences Corp.

“We are one of the few companies left doing discovery research in agriculture, and this facility is a sign of our commitment to the future of agriculture. You think of all of the consolidations going on in this industry and how few companies are going to be left to do true discovery. Agricultural doesn’t stand still. It keeps moving. We need to keep coming up with new products and new ideas, and that’s what’s driving this station and the future of Valent.”

Eric Johnson, vice present of technology

Valent U.S.A Corp.

“This type of a site will be the first place that everything comes from a field testing standpoint. Products have to perform in the field and oftentimes factors will influence it and we have to make sure these products are extremely robust, that they respond to the environment and help to guide farmers so they get the best response from our products. The center employs the latest digital technology to prepare all products to be precision ready. Most of the things that you see in the field is eight to 10 years away. This farm is going to be part of that next generation of products that’s coming forward for farmers.”