WESTFIELD, Ind. — AgReliant Genetics, the third-largest corn seed company in North America, turned over its first shovel of dirt earlier this month to build onto its headquarters in Westfield – nearly doubling its size.

AgReliant’s continued growth in the marketplace has created the need to expand, said Craig Newman, president and CEO. Currently, the seed company markets seven brands, including corn, soybeans and alfalfa, across 33 states.

"With the expansion of our headquarters, we’ll be able to expand and centralize our corporate leadership team in order to operate more effectively. By adding the training facility and conference center, we’ll be able to host employee and customer meetings on-site throughout the year. The additional flexible space will also give us the option to continue our personnel growth in the future," Newman explained.

Formed in 2000, AgReliant researches corn genetics primarily. Its leaders are excited about a new precision platform, Advantage Acre, which will launch this fall.

"Technology utilization and advancement is the trend in all of agriculture, not just the seed industry. The ability to utilize precision farming techniques such as variable rate planting and comprehensive farm management is something that growers are excited about," Newman said.

"We’re developing a precision platform, Advantage Acre, which will use field-level information, agronomic insights and our knowledge of our seed products to help maximize yield potential. It will also include detailed recordkeeping features and enhanced weather information, to give growers more confidence based on past performance and anticipated growing conditions. It is a system we are really looking forward to sharing with growers this fall."

Precision is key to customer relations, as well.

"Our mission is to consistently provide innovative, high-quality solutions with exceptional service to each of our customers. With the level of precision we use to place our products, we also want to work with our customers on an individual and precise way as well," he added.

Mitsch Design, a local architectural and interior design firm, and Pepper Construction, a local general contractor, will head the project on-site, with expected completion in early 2016. Newman thanked Westfield, Hamilton County, the state and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. for its support and help.

"We look forward to a prosperous future together," he said.

AgReliant markets seed through the following brands: AgriGold, Eureka Seeds, Great Lakes Hybrids, LG Seeds, Producers Hybrids, Wensman and PRIDE Seeds. The company was formed by two parent seed companies, Limagrain, of France, and KWS, of Germany, to promote seed innovation and development.

AgReliant has 13 research facilities across North America. The company claims to have increased its corn volume by more than 300 percent since its inception in 2000.