The estimated value of Hawai'i's seed industry rose 26 percent to a record $97.6 million for the 2006-07 season from the previous season, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Seed corn is expected to account for $94 million, or 96 percent, of that total value. A variety of other seed crops will account for the remaining 4 percent.

Seed exports rose 19 percent to a record 9 million pounds. Acreage harvested for all seed crops rose 16 percent to a record 4,820 acres.

Agribusiness giant Monsanto Co. is a driving force in Hawai'i's burgeoning seed crop industry.

Monsanto in April announced an agreement to buy 2,300 acres of agricultural-zoned land in Kunia from the James Campbell Co. to expand its seed crop operations, including genetically modified corn.

Monsanto, which also has operations on Maui, Moloka'i and Kaua'i, is a leading producer of biotech corn seed crops.

The seed crop industry provides about 2,000 jobs and generates $144 million in direct and indirect economic activity annually, according to a study released last year by the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

The value of the state's seed-crop industry has grown fivefold in the past decade.