HERMISTON -- DuPont Pioneer, a developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries, announced plans Wednesday to increase capacity at its Hermiston research location.

The $4 million expansion, expected to be completed in August, will add more than 5,000 square feet of office space and 51,000 square feet of drying, storage and seed conditioning space.

The expansion will create an estimated seven new jobs in the next two years. The expansion announcement comes less than two months after Pioneer announced plans for a $28 million expansion of its Hermiston Parent Seed facility, creating 18 new full-time jobs.

Pioneer first established a research presence in the Hermiston area in 2010. The location supports the company's IMPACT, or Intensively Managed Product Advancement Characterization Testing program, by growing seed for pre-commercial testing throughout North America.