DuPont, a subsidiary of newly merged DowDuPont, is collaborating with Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical to accelerate the development, registration and commercialization of seed-applied technologies in order to improve early plant growth and enhance crop yields worldwide.

The agreement combines Sumitomo’s conventional chemical and biological pipeline with the advanced seed technology, development and commercialization capabilities of DuPont Crop Protection, part of DowDuPont’s agriculture division. The partners said the combination provides the opportunity to evaluate the technologies together and at much earlier stages to understand the complementary characteristics of various product combinations.

“Sumitomo Chemical has made significant investments in rhizosphere technology research to enhance seed protection and maximize early plant development through chemical and biological agrosolutions,” said Kimitoshi Umeda, associate officer and general manager, AgroSolutions division-international at Sumitomo Chemical, adding that the company looks forward to future collaborations with DuPont.

Mick Messman, director of DuPont Seed Applied Technologies, said that the Japanese group’s portfolio and pipeline would complement its investments in seed-applied products.

Collaborations between DuPont and Sumitomo Chemical’s regional affiliate, California-based Valent U.S.A., will focus on North America, with the potential to expand to multiple crop markets worldwide.

DowDuPont intends to separate its agriculture division into an independent, publicly traded company. It will do the same with the materials science and specialty products businesses.