Enogen corn enzyme technology honored as 2014 Product of the Year by Agri Marketing magazine
- Innovative seed product recognized for the benefits it delivers to farmers, ethanol plants and rural communities
- Enogen® is the industry’s only corn trait bioengineered specifically to enhance ethanol production
- Unique grain has the potential to add value throughout the corn ethanol supply chain
MINNETONKA, Minn., USA – Enogen corn enzyme technology from Syngenta has been selected as the winner of Agri Marketing magazine’s prestigious Product of the Year award for 2014. Enogen is the industry’s first and only biotech output trait designed specifically to enhance ethanol production.
“Agri Marketing magazine created the Product of the Year award program in 1997 to recognize one agricultural product each year for its outstanding impact in the marketplace,” said Lynn Henderson, publisher of Agri Marketing. “Enogen was chosen, from a number of exciting new technologies, by a distinguished panel of judges from across the agriculture industry because of the benefits it delivers to farmers, ethanol plants and rural communities. Nominations are judged on criteria that include sales and marketing goals, competitive pressure in the marketplace and effective use of marketing tools in the introduction of the product.”
During the commercial introduction of Enogen three years ago, 19 growers in Kansas signed contracts to plant approximately 5,000 acres of Enogen corn. In 2014, those numbers have increased to more than 450 growers across the Midwest and 108,000 acres of Enogen corn. Syngenta estimates that more than 1,000 growers will plant Enogen seed on more than 250,000 acres during 2015.
“Enogen corn arrived during a critical time for the renewable fuels industry,” said David Witherspoon, head of renewable fuels at Syngenta. “Since it hit the market in 2011, this unique grain has exceeded industry expectations and has the potential to add value throughout the corn ethanol supply chain.”
Enogen is rapidly gaining popularity because of the value it delivers and the opportunity it provides corn growers to be enzyme suppliers for their local ethanol plants.
“With Enogen, ethanol producers can redirect the money they previously used to buy liquid alpha amylase enzyme to local farmers instead, in the form of a 40-cent-per-bushel, on average, premium,” added Jack Bernens, head of marketing and stakeholder relations for Enogen at Syngenta. “Assuming an average yield of 165 bushels per acre, Enogen corn will generate approximately $7 million of additional revenue for local growers who have signed Enogen contracts for the 2014 crop.”
Last year, as part of the introduction of The Good Growth Plan, Syngenta announced six commitments to address the global food security challenge. The Good Growth Plan has specific, ambitious and measurable targets which focus on boosting resource efficiency, rejuvenating ecosystems and strengthening rural communities. By metering in a small percentage of Enogen corn (15 percent of the total corn required), ethanol plants have the potential to reduce natural gas, electricity and water use – and their carbon footprint. Enogen is one example of how Syngenta is bringing The Good Growth Plan to life.
To produce Enogen corn, growers can use their existing cultural farming practices (subject to applicable stewardship requirements), including nutrient, weed, insect and disease management programs. More importantly, there is no yield drag shown in hybrids featuring the Enogen corn enzyme technology.
For more information about Enogen corn enzyme technology, visit www.Enogen.net. Join the conversation online – connect with us at social.SyngentaUS.com.
About Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers, we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us, please go to www.syngenta.com.