Hyderabad, Oct 31 (IANS): US-based science and technology company DuPont Friday opened its newest multi-crop research centre (MCRC) here.

The flagship plant breeding and research facility enables the DuPont Pioneer seed business to bring innovation to multiple crops that are grown locally thereby improving the productivity of Indian farmers, said a company statement.

Spreading over more than 100 acres, the construction of the MCRC began in May 2012. The new research centre will accommodate up to 120 researchers engaged in corn, rice, millet, mustard and cotton hybrid seeds development catering to the farmers in the Indian subcontinent.

The facility will enable the deployment of trailblazing breeding technologies such as molecular breeding, doubled haploids for development of high quality hybrids adapted to local and regional growing conditions.

"Our investment in this multi-crop research centre demonstrates our ongoing commitment to harness DuPont global science to create local solutions for Indian farmers and help address food security challenges," said Balvinder Singh Kalsi, president - DuPont South Asia & ASEAN.

"The new research facility will play a pivotal role in understanding regional challenges, weather changes, soil types and applying science to develop higher yielding products suitable to the Indian environment."

DuPont Pioneer is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries.