Syngenta has released financial results for the first quarter of 2015, announcing continuous expansion of the Enogen corn planform. According to the company, Enogen acreage is expected to double this year.

Mike Mack, CEO of Syngenta, briefly addressed progress with Enogen corn during a quarterly presentation. ”With the launch this year of an ethanol grain quality solution we are now incorporating crop protection into our Enogen trait platform,” he said in a transcript published by Syngenta. “This supplies growers of Enogen corn with a crop protection protocol resulting in superior kernel quality, enabling them to receive a 10 cents per bushel premium for their grain.”

Mack also indicated Enogen corn seed has increased its reach to nine commercial plants and noted acres are expected to double this year. Together, those nine ethanol plants have a combined production capacity of more than 700 million gallons.

“The introduction alongside Enogen of the Cellerate technology, which first became commercial nine months ago, has allowed plant output to qualify as cellulosic, and this year the first plant passed the 1 million gallon milestone for cellulosic ethanol,” he added, referencing the recent announcement that Iowa-based Quad County Corn Processors has produced its 1 millionth gallon of cellulosic ethanol using the Cellerate process.

Overall, Syngenta reported group sales of $4 million were unchanged at constant exchange rates compared to the same period of last year. Reported sales were 14 percent lower, reflecting the strength of the dollar against most other currencies. Integrated sales of $3.8 billion increased by 1 percent at constant exchange rates. Volumes were 7 percent lower while prices were 8 percent higher.