Chinese biotechnology company Origin Agritech Ltd. signed a definitive agreement with DuPont’s advanced seed and genetics unit to gain access to non-GMO corn seed products for sale to the United States market, a press release by Origin announced Jan. 3.

The DuPont Pioneer business’ corn seed will be available to U.S. farmers through Origin for the 2017 spring planting, the Beijing-based company said. Origin did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement.

“This agreement with DuPont Pioneer is a critical first step toward launching Origin’s North America strategic Pillar III, focused on serving the non-GM/Organic markets,” said Bill Niebur, Origin’s chief executive officer, in a statement. “We look forward to offering these products to U.S. farmers through a novel, digitally-enabled route to market while building a platform from which Origin can continue to grow.”

The new agreement is part of Origin’s launch of its Pillar III: North America non-GM/Organic growth platform. In April, the companies signed a commercial agreement on the joint development of new seed technologies in China.

“Today’s announcement helps advance our business model of creating value by connecting growers and end-users – while providing services along the value chain,” said Christine Bobst, business director of Origin North America in the release. “We are looking forward to serving the non-GM/organic markets in new and different ways as we pursue a full slate of agricultural products, technology, and service offerings.”

Origin was founded in 1997 and is “China’s leading agricultural biotechnology company,” the company release said.

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