Position Statement

The rapidly growing world population, rising standard of living and growing demand for wholesome diets are increasing the need for adequate, safe and nutritious food and feed. In addition, rising petroleum prices, the desire for greater energy security, concerns about the environment and the growing need for more energy and materials to accommodate our swelling global population are causing a rise in demand for renewable, non-petroleum sources. 

Demand for food and fuel requires further gains in agricultural productivity, in conjunction with a transformation in how we produce and use energy to ensure the protection of our planet. This progression will take time, and may cause temporary disruptions along the food and energy value chains.

For more than 200 years, DuPont has used its scientific innovation, industry leadership and safety expertise to develop sustainable solutions that contribute to a better, safer and healthier life for people everywhere. And DuPont is committed to continuing the advancement of science and development of unique discoveries to help address the inevitable challenges of a world population that will exceed nine billion by 2050.

DuPont believes it is imperative and feasible to meet the world’s growing needs for food, fuel, feed and materials, and that those needs can be fulfilled in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable manner. 

DuPont believes purposeful dialogue and coordinated actions among stakeholders are essential, and DuPont is dedicated to being part of the dialogue.

DuPont believes that a holistic approach, which involves the entire supply chain, is required to meet the demand for food, feed, fuel and materials, while protecting the environment and assuring people’s access to safe, nutritious food. 

DuPont believes science will continue to provide solutions for agricultural productivity, food quality and renewable energy sources.

DuPont has multiple business initiatives underway to deliver more safe, nutritious foods and produce more renewable energy and materials, while reducing our environmental footprint. All of the initiatives outlined below are integral in meeting our 2015 Sustainability Goals.

Putting Science to Work

• Agricultural Productivity. The demand for food and fuel will not diminish, it will only increase as our population grows. To keep pace with demand and reduce our impact on the environment, we will have to produce more with less. DuPont is actively applying science to maximize the bushels, calories and gallons produced from each unit of land. And through advanced plant breeding and biotechnology, DuPont is commercializing crops that not only yield more, but also require less inputs—such as water and nitrogen—and maintain yields despite harsh weather and other stresses. DuPont is also incorporating traits into plants that improve crop grain and feedstock quality, and is utilizing traits and offering innovative crop protection products to protect against yield-robbing insect damage and diseases.

• Enhanced Nutrition and Food Safety.   DuPont is actively engaged in developing, producing and distributing nutritious foods and food ingredients. We also provide equipment and materials that the food industry and regulatory agencies use to monitor and protect food products from microbial contamination.

• Biofuels. DuPont is active in the transition from petroleum-based transportation fuels to renewably-sourced fuels. We are developing the next generation of biofuel production technologies, which includes identifying production efficiencies of agricultural feedstocks, the use of non-food materials (such as cellulosic biomass) and the development of high-performance biofuels. 

• Beneficial Uses of Coproducts. DuPont is exploring opportunities for beneficial use of co-products from bio-manufacturing processes, such as residual biomass from ethanol production for food, feed and renewably-sourced materials.

• Life Cycle Studies. For almost 20 years, DuPont has been reducing the environmental footprint of our own operations through life cycle studies. We are focused on developing products and employing processes that are safer, more energy efficient, use less water and minimize environmental impacts. 

• Energy Efficiency.  DuPont science contributes in many ways to greater energy efficiency at our manufacturing facilities and in our products. As examples, our global energy consumption is currently 6% lower on an absolute basis than it was in 1990, despite more than 40% growth in production volume. And DuPont technologies improve the performance of solar panels, and create advanced materials to help reduce the weight of transportation vehicles, thus increasing fuel efficiency.

In addition to the business initiatives outlined above, DuPont is also analyzing the social and economic realities in developing markets. We believe our world can adequately support all of humanity, now and in the future. But to do that, we also believe radical changes are required to equip the world’s poorest with the resources to move past subsistence farming and ongoing food aid. Farmers in some regions of the world reach only 20% of the productivity levels enjoyed by farmers elsewhere, because they lack access to markets, credit, technologies and collaborative extension services. Igniting change to enable sustainable global economic growth requires dialogue amongst a wide range of interested parties, so that together, we can identify and deliver the best solutions for the environment and humanity.

DuPont will continue to apply science to develop sustainable solutions for a better, safer and healthier life for people everywhere. And we are committed to collaboration—to learn from others how we can adapt and develop technologies, products and processes to help address the global challenges of supplying the critical materials the world needs: food, feed, fuel and materials.