Our Lineage

Galena Genetics’ germplasm lineage dates back to Pioneer Hi-Bred International. During the decades of the late 1980s and 1990s, Pioneer supported two soybean breeding efforts. One breeding program was headed up by Dr. Dennis Byron, and its focus was to develop soybeans for the mass market. The second program, which fell under Pioneer’s Specialty Plant Products (SPP) division was led by Dr. Clark Jennings, and focused on the development of conventionally bred, large-seeded, high-protein, food grade soybeans for the global market.

During the two decades that both programs gained traction and recognition, Pioneer was led by President Tom Urban, whose vision was to feed the world with Pioneer products. President Urban did not take a stand on whether the world should be fed with gene-altered or conventionally bred soybeans. Instead, he wanted the consumer to make the final decision. He believed it was Pioneer’s duty to bring both products to the world marketplace. When DuPont acquired Pioneer, the decision was made to focus only on “core related” businesses. The SPP conventional breeding program was then marked as non-core related.

In the late 1990s, Galena Genetics, LLC acquired the assets (including the germplasm) of the SPP division from Pioneer, and realigned our focus to developing high yielding, conventionally bred, and competitively priced soybeans without the tech fees demanded by large multi-national seed companies. We are a broad-spectrum breeder, screening for strong agronomic traits demanded by the farm producer while also screening for high protein lines to entice the end-user’s appetite. Galena Genetics’ Plant Breeders and Research Director focus on two objectives: agronomic superiority and yield advantage.

Galena Genetics currently is focusing their breeding efforts in a six-state region: Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, & Wisconsin. Galena Genetics has 30 yield trial locations in these six states, experimental research plots in other locations, crossing nurseries in Minnesota and Iowa, and a winter nursery in South America. When Galena sets up a yield trial location, we bring in varieties that are ear-marked as our competitors’ “race-horses” by producers in each specific growing region. Galena Genetics stands the test in yield and over-all performance every time.

For you, the producer, this means high-yielding soybeans with excellent agronomic packages at an exceptional price. Year after year, the bottom line is more dollars in your pocket from your soybean acres.