Manhattan, Kansas, USA
August 2010

A veteran of the agricultural biotechnology industry has been named the first president and chief executive officer of Heartland Plant Innovations, Inc.

Forrest Chumley, who spent more than a quarter-century in roles with the DuPont Company, K-State Research and Extension and Edenspace Systems Corporation, began his new position Jan. 29.

"We couldn't be happier that Forrest accepted our offer to lead HPI," says Paul Penner, president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, which is majority owner of HPI. "Forrest brings vast experience in identifying, validating and commercializing new product concepts for food and agriculture. He is the right person to lead this brand new company."

HPI, Inc. is a for-profit company dedicated to new genetic traits and other valuable technologies for wheat, sorghum and native plants. HPI's goal is to discover and commercialize new products that can help farmers be more efficient and more profitable, and help customers of these grains and plants do the same. The end-result will be development of a host of new traits that can improve agronomic performance for wheat and sorghum, improve human nutrition and animal feed efficiency and create new uses for both crops.

"The timing is right to develop biotech solutions for wheat and sorghum. Despite excellent end-use qualities in both crops, we've seen their planted acreage decline," Chumley says. "Through HPI, we will create opportunity across the whole spectrum of food, feed, fuel and fiber. Together with our partners, we will develop traits that solve problems for farmers and improve quality and performance for end-users of the crop."

HPI uses a unique collaboration of public and private investment. HPI was created through a Center for Innovation grant from the Kansas Bioscience Authority, which provided $4 million in startup funds for HPI's first year. HPI is eligible to secure an additional $4 million per year for the next four years. KBA funds were made possible through the Kansas Economic Growth Act.

In addition to KAWG's 51% ownership, private investors include prominent agricultural technology providers, food industry giants, and individuals and smaller companies. Researchers from investor companies will work with scientists from the University of Kansas and Kansas State University to develop and commercialize these new technologies, Chumley says.

In the realm of plants native to Kansas, a host of new opportunities exist, including novel therapeutic uses and food ingredients. More than 100 native plants have a host of medicinal, therapeutic and cosmetic properties that have been largely untapped, according to Chumley.

"HPI is in a unique position to help facilitate public and private partnerships and develop and commercialize new traits. Efforts from HPI will be synergistic with projects our investors are involved in. The challenge for HPI is to create and capture value, participate in research efforts and commercialize traits and products as quickly as possible," he explains. "HPI will bring new economic opportunity in Kansas that is focused on these plant systems. That, in turn, creates new wealth and jobs for Kansas."

Chumley, a native of West Virginia, received a B.A. degree from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of California at Berkeley. He and his wife, Dr. Barbara Valent, reside in Manhattan.
 

Website: http://heartlandinnovations.com/

Published: August 15, 2010