DuPont 2012 Annual Report Download - page 4

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seed sales amounted to 21 percent, 19 percent and 19 percent of the company's total consolidated net sales for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and
2010, respectively.
Pioneer's research and development focuses on integrating high yielding germplasm with value added proprietary and/or licensed native and biotechnology
traits with local environment and service expertise. Pioneer uniquely develops integrated products for specific regional application based on local product
advancement and testing of the product concepts. Research and development in this arena requires long-term commitment of resources, extensive regulatory
efforts and collaborations, partnerships and business arrangements to successfully bring products to market. Pioneer licenses biotechnology traits from third
parties as a normal course of business. To protect its investment, the business employs the use of patents covering germplasm and native and biotechnology
traits in accordance with country laws.
Pioneer is actively pursuing the development of innovations for corn hybrid, soybean varieties, canola, sunflower, wheat and rice based on market
assessments of the most valuable opportunities. In corn hybrids, programs include innovations for drought and nitrogen efficiency, insect protection and
herbicide tolerance. In soybean varieties, programs include products with high oleic content, multiple herbicide tolerance and insect protection.
Pioneer has seed production facilities located throughout the world. Seed production is performed directly by the business or contracted with independent
growers and conditioners. Pioneer's ability to produce seeds primarily depends upon weather conditions and availability of reliable contract growers.
Pioneer markets and sells seed product primarily under the Pioneer ® brand but also sells and distributes products utilizing additional brand names. Pioneer
promotes its products through multiple marketing channels around the world. In the corn and soybean markets of the U.S. Corn Belt, Pioneer ® brand
products are sold primarily through a specialized force of independent sales representatives. Outside of North America, Pioneer's products are marketed
through a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures and independent producer-distributors.
DuPont Crop Protection serves the global production agriculture industry with crop protection products for field crops such as wheat, corn, soybean and rice;
specialty crops such as fruit, nut, vine and vegetables; and non-crop segments, including forestry and land management. Principle crop protection products
are weed control, disease control and insect control offerings. Crop Protection products are marketed and sold to growers and other end users through a
network of wholesale distributors and crop input retailers. The sales growth of the business' insect control portfolio is led by DuPont TM Rynaxypyr®
insecticide, a product registered for sale in 80 countries and sold under four key brands for use across a broad range of core agricultural crops.
The major commodities, raw materials and supplies for the Agriculture segment include: benzene and carbamic acid related intermediates, copper, corn and
soybean seeds, insect control products, natural gas, seed treatments and sulfonamides.
Agriculture segment sales outside the U.S. accounted for 53 percent of the segment's total sales in 2012.
Electronics & Communications
Electronics & Communications (E&C) is a leading supplier of differentiated materials and systems for photovoltaics (PV), consumer electronics, displays
and advanced printing that enable superior performance and lower total cost of ownership for customers. The segment leverages the company's strong
materials and technology base to target attractive growth opportunities in PV materials, circuit and semiconductor fabrication and packaging materials,
display materials, packaging graphics, and ink-jet printing. In the growing PV market, E&C continues to be an industry-leading innovator and supplier of
metalization pastes and backsheet materials that improve the efficiency and lifetime of solar cells and modules. In 2012, the segment commercialized new
DuPontTM Solamet® PV metallization paste to drive step-change gains in efficiency of solar cells. DuPont is a leading global supplier of materials to the PV
industry.
In the displays market, E&C has developed solution-process technology, which it licenses, and a growing range of materials for active matrix organic light
emitting diode (AMOLED) television displays. The segment has a broad portfolio of materials for semiconductor fabrication and packaging, as well as
innovative materials for circuit applications, to address critical needs of electronic component and device manufacturers. In consumer electronics, E&C
materials add value in the high growth hand-held markets of tablets and smart phones. In packaging graphics, E&C is a leading supplier of flexographic
printing systems, including Cyrel® photopolymer plates and platemaking systems. The segment is investing in new products to strengthen its market
leadership position in advanced printing markets. The segment is also expanding its leadership position in black-pigmented inks and developing new color-
pigmented inks for network printing applications.
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