The US agritech company Corteva Agriscience is investing in hybrid wheat varieties specifically designed for India, to introduce commercial seeds within 10 to 15 years to enhance yields and facilitate the transition of land to crops such as corn for ethanol production and mustard for oil extraction.
Brook Cunningham, the President of Corteva’s Asia Pacific operations, has identified India as a key focus for this technology, which was announced a year ago, utilising local germplasm while navigating global scaling challenges that span 25 years. The hybrid varieties are expected to provide yield increases of 15 to 20% for smallholder farmers managing 0.3-hectare plots, with some varieties potentially offering income increases of 20 to 30%, thereby aligning with food security and export objectives in the face of climate change and population growth pressures.
Corteva has been operating in India since 1972 and has recorded an annual growth rate of 12%, reaching 150 million small farmers through the provision of accessible seeds, crop protection solutions, and biological products. The company maintains research hubs in Telangana and invests $1.4 billion globally in research and development, which constitutes 8% of its revenue, while employing artificial intelligence to expedite innovations without revealing specific figures for India. In addition to wheat, the company anticipates a 15% increase in corn acreage over the next two years with the introduction of new rainy season hybrids; Clearfield mustard hybrids were launched this year to facilitate scaling; and there is significant potential for rice hybridisation given the currently low adoption rates.
Cunningham underscored the mutual advantages of these initiatives: yield improvements that benefit farmers, value chains, and the company itself, thereby ensuring profitability. The technologies developed are designed to address pest resistance and the impacts of climate change, thereby bolstering India’s self-sufficiency in rice and wheat, as well as enhancing exports of fruits, vegetables, corn, and sustainable fuels. Having transitioned from a career in investment banking to join Corteva in 2022, she perceives the agricultural sector’s influence on smallholders as crucial, especially with the projected increase of 2 billion people globally over the next 25 years.
