Syngenta, DuPont Sign Agreement for Access to Broad Insect Control Technology in Corn

BASEL, Switzerland and WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 19  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Syngenta and DuPont today announced a global agreement that will provide DuPont business, Pioneer Hi-Bred, access to Syngenta's novel insect control corn event, MIR162.  Under the royalty-bearing agreement, Syngenta will grant Pioneer a non-exclusive, global license with stacking rights to MIR162.  Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are pleased with this important commitment which further demonstrates the quality of Syngenta's biotech trait pipeline," said Davor Pisk, Chief Operating Officer Syngenta Seeds.   "This agreement will accelerate the rapid adoption of Syngenta proprietary technology to better protect growers' corn crops worldwide."

"With access to this trait, we have a great new tool to build on our insect control product offerings," said Paul E. Schickler, DuPont Vice President and General Manager and President of Pioneer. "The addition of MIR162 to our already strong insect control trait portfolio will provide growers with a superior product choice in controlling the broadest range of insect pests."

MIR162 is currently in the regulatory review process in the United States and the major corn export markets.  It is expected to receive US regulatory approval by the end of the year.

MIR162 will protect corn above the ground by delivering high-level control of a broad spectrum of lepidopteran insects including fall army worm, corn ear worm, western bean and black cut worm and sugar cane borer, which are key pests in the United States, Brazil and Argentina.  The gene contained in MIR162 has a distinct mode of action that is structurally and functionally different from the genes contained in insect control technologies currently in the marketplace.

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology.  The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market.  Sales in 2007 were approximately $9.2 billion.  Syngenta employs over 21,000 people in more than 90 countries.  Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (NYSE:SYT).  Further information is available at http://www.syngenta.com/.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors.  With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

For additional information about our company or our products, check our worldwide website: http://www.dupont.com/ and http://www.pioneer.com/.

  Contacts:

  Pioneer
  Media Enquiries:
  Patrick Arthur [phone]
  

  Syngenta
  Media Enquiries:

  Medard Schoenmaeckers (Switzerland)    [phone]
  

  Sarah Hull (US)                        [phone]

  Analysts/Investors:
  Jonathan Seabrook                      [phone]
                                         [phone]
  Jennifer Gough                         [phone]
                                         [phone]



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements - Syngenta This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor. 

DATASOURCE: Syngenta and DuPont



CONTACT:  Patrick Arthur of Pioneer, [phone],

; or Media, Medard Schoenmaeckers (Switzerland),

[phone], , or Sarah Hull (US),

[phone], or Investors, Jonathan Seabrook, [phone],

[phone], or Jennifer Gough, [phone], [phone], all for

Syngenta



Web site:  http://www.syngenta.com/

http://www.dupont.com/

http://www.pioneer.com/ 

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