Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.’s research center in Algona is one of the 67 research locations worldwide the company is expanding, according to the Mason City Globe Gazette. The expansion is part of parent company E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.’s $100 million investment in its seed business. Pioneer announced in late February that it would also expand its headquarters in Johnston and its Dallas Center facility, adding a combined 73 jobs.

The project in Algona will add six to eight new positions to its enhanced corn research programs. It also will begin construction on a seed drying, processing and handling plant, which is expected to be complete in 2008. Plans for the center also call for increasing land for its soybean research program.

Perry Collins established the first research center in 1939 on a farm between Ottosen and Rolfe, about 20 miles southwest of Algona. The center moved to Algona in 1943 and has developed a reputation in Pioneer for producing top-performing corn hybrids.

“Pioneer has a long history in Algona with a research center and production plant both located here in the middle of a lot of corn and soybean acres,” said Joe Gogerty, a senior research scientist.