The Dow Chemical Co. and Cargill Inc. announced today that Dow's wholly owned subsidiary, Mycogen Seeds, will acquire the assets of Cargill Hybrid Seeds. Cargill Hybrid Seeds' assets will be merged with Mycogen, which is affiliated with Dow's wholly owned subsidiary Dow AgroSciences LLC. Dow said the acquisition will result in a "larger and more efficient platform from which to launch biotechnology products." The purchase includes all seed research, production and distribution assets of Cargill Hybrid Seeds in the U.S. and Canada, except Cargill's InterMountain Canola, Goertzen Seed Research and the western Canadian seed distribution business. The companies said they expect the deal to close by Oct. 31. Financial terms were not disclosed. Cargill had initially sold its seed unit to AgrEvo in 1998, but that sale was terminated in February 1999 after it was discovered that some of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. germplasm was being used in certain Cargill seed lines.

Outlook for pork production 'strong'

The industry outlook for pork producers "in the first decade of the new century is strong" if producers can control enthusiasm in profitable years and expand more patiently than they did in 1998, according to Len Steiner, head of Steiner & Co. in Manchester, N.H. Prices and profitability have improved significantly this year on only slightly decreased pork production, reflecting both domestic and export increases in demand, he said, speaking to a media session at the World Pork Expo in June. The outlook points to a number of positives, he said, but there also are risks. Pork is the most consumed meat in the world, and China, with a market that's just now opening up, is the largest pork consumer in the world, he said. Furthermore, consumers in the U.S. are "losing interest" in chicken because it lacks the taste of other meat, he said. At the same time, the industry must recognize some inherent problems, Steiner said, including pork production that decreases and increases with jagged inconsistency that leaves industry infrastructure, such as packing capacity, out of sync with production and creates large changes in price relative to changes in production.

Researchers see benefits for humans in feed product

Researchers at Kansas State University are hoping to begin human studies to determine if a product tested at the university that has reduced fat in hogs and pork products can do something like that in people, according to animal scientists and human nutrition specialists at the university. If laboratory models are correct, diets including modified tall oil can decrease body fat as much as 21% in males and post-menopausal women, the university workers said.

A 'bewildering array' of functional foods

Food and pharmaceutical producers are perhaps rushing too fast to launch products in the functional and nutraceutical foods market, compromising credibility with consumers, according to new research at Promar International, a food and healthcare consulting firm. All too often, companies don't have the concrete evidence to back extravagant health-promotion claims, and the consequence may be to bloat the functional food sector with products that could leave it sick, the consulting firm said. An expanding line-up of beverages, foods and pharmaceuticals that make bone, cardial and gastro health claims has lead to "a bewildering array of colorful brands and healthcare claims," according to Promar, which suggested a more reasoned strategy, including food and pharmaceutical producer-partnerships.

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