Pioneer Celebrates 100 Years of Seed Innovation and Over Five Decades of Partnership with Indian Farmers

Hyderabad: Corteva marked the global centenary of its flagship seed brand, Pioneer, with a special celebration in Hyderabad. The event brought together employees, farmers, channel partners and customers to honour 100 years of seed innovation and more than 54 years of partnership with Indian agriculture since 1972.

The celebration paid tribute to the people who have shaped Pioneer’s journey in India. It recognised employees for their dedication to innovation, channel partners for expanding the brand’s reach, and farmers for their continued trust in Pioneer seeds across the country. The occasion also reflected on the brand’s legacy while looking ahead to the future of agriculture.

Founded in 1926 by Henry A. Wallace, Pioneer transformed farming by commercialising hybrid seed corn and laid the foundation for a century of agricultural innovation. Today, Pioneer serves farmers in more than 90 countries, guided by the belief that meaningful progress begins with one farmer, one seed and one season.

In India, Pioneer has spent more than five decades developing hybrid seed solutions tailored to local conditions across crops such as maize, rice, mustard and millets. The company continues to support Indian farmers through locally relevant research, breeding and agronomic expertise, while India remains an important hub within Corteva’s global innovation network.

Speaking at the event, Yogesh Ramkrishna, a maize farmer from Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, said: “Pioneer has been part of my farming journey for the past 20 years, helping me learn and adopt better farming practices. Its focus on improving farmer productivity, combined with timely support and new technologies, has helped increase maize yields in our region from 15 quintals to as much as 50 quintals. I am proud to say that Pioneer has played an important role in helping me and fellow farmers become more prosperous.”

Robert Kaan, Head of APAC and Strategic Initiatives at Corteva, said: “Pioneer’s centenary is a celebration of trust, innovation and enduring partnerships. In India, this journey has been built with farmers, employees and channel partners. As we look ahead, we remain committed to advancing seed solutions that are local, science-led and farmer-first.”

As Pioneer enters its next century, the brand will continue to drive farmer-first innovation and strengthen the partnerships that have defined its legacy in Indian agriculture.