E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., parent company of Johnston-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., does not believe a major merger is in its near future, but is rather focused on acquiring small, niche biotechnology companies, said Charles Holliday Jr., the company’s CEO, during a speech at the Boston College Chief Executives’ Club yesterday.

According to MarketWatch, Holliday spoke about how DuPont has changed from a chemical company into a “high sciences” company, focusing more on biology-based products that now account for 25 percent of the company’s revenues. He also said the company is focused on what it sees as three major global trends: the move toward biofuels; the need for better home and commercial security products; and the demand for increased food production through biotech seeds.

In related news, DuPont has decided to invest nearly $42 million to expand Pioneer’s seed genetics research facilities in Johnston, Dallas Center, Urbandale and Marion. The expansion projects will create 165 jobs. The Economic Development Board and the Iowa Department of Economic Development approved tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program and $400,000 from the Physical Infrastructure Assistance Program for the development projects.