Agricultural research company
to branch into local city
Morgan Conklin
Summer
Reporter
Greater Lafayette Progress Inc. announced Tuesday
that a farm-based research and development company is going to be branching
into the area.
Landec Ag Inc., a company that specializes in the
production of polymer products, will open its third Indiana-based business
this fall.
The company — officially stationed in Menlo
Park, Calif. — already has branches in West Lebanon and Monticello
and will begin operations from Oxford.
Landec is responsible for a seed-coating product
that aids farmers in the increase of crop production. The polymer coating,
Intellicoat, surrounds the seeds a farmer will plant on his farm. The
coating has the ability to change its properties based on the weather.
Tom Crowley, president of Landec Ag, said the coating
allows farmers to plant seeds up to four weeks earlier than usual without
having to worry about the cold weather injuring the seed.
Because of the coating, it will be possible to
harvest one crop while another is sprouting, thus enabling farmers to
field two crops yearly, whereas farmers were able to only harvest one
before, Crowley said.
"The (coating) works perfectly with the corn,
soybean rotation. Together (farmers) will get more income and revenue,"
he said.
Crowley said the company is looking forward to
being stationed in Indiana. "We will be in the heart of the Corn
Belt, and that makes the whole process a lot easier (compared to being
stationed in California)."
The M ayor of West Lafayette, Sonya Margerum,
said she is honored to have Landec come to Oxford. "It is very
exciting to have a high-tech agriculture company (in Indiana)."
Some have dreamed of this, but never thought it was possible, she said.
"It will help serve as a magnet for other 21st century companies
in the area."
The company is looking to hire eight employees
from the area immediately, and they hope to have a total of at least
20 employees. However, Crowley said depending on how fast the company
commercializes, there could be a need for more than 20 employees.
The company will open for operations in August.
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