Bayer CropScience’s vegetable seed business Nunhems continues to invest in future growth after 90 years of successful business

Investment of 6 million Euros in a new seed processing warehouse and new research greenhouse.

Monheim, Germany – On Friday June 23, 2006, Nunhems, the vegetable seed business of Bayer CropScience celebrated the 90th anniversary of its headquarters in Haelen, The Netherlands, at its premises. On this occasion, the Governor of the Queen of the Province of Limburg, L.J.P.M Frissen inaugurated two new facilities, a seed processing warehouse and a greenhouse for breeding, phytopathology and biotechnology, representing an investment of approximately 6 million Euros.

“Nunhems in its 90 years of history has continually succeeded in expanding its business and is looking to further growth in future as well”, says Friedrich Berschauer, chairman of the board of management of Bayer CropScience. “We are very proud to have this successful business with Bayer CropScience. It has been one of the drivers of our strong business performance last year and we are very confident that our innovative seed business will continue to play an important role in the future.”

In the new state-of-the-art seed processing warehouse of 5.000 m2 Nunhems improves its seeds through latest technologies: quality cleaning, quality enhancement, priming, coating, pelleting and seed storage under optimal conditions. In the new research greenhouse of 16.000 m2 Nunhems concentrates its resistance breeding activities for North-West European crops such as carrot, leek, cucumber and supports the breeding work at other Nunhems locations in the world. By testing the breeding material at an early stage on their resistance to pests and diseases Nunhems improves the breeding of vegetable seeds worldwide with regard to its focus to offer healthy vegetables. Extensive facilities with growing rooms and climatic chambers have been created for phytopathology research and biotechnology.

“With the inauguration of these new facilities we invest in our future business in order to continue as market leaders in product and innovation. We see our strength in building up and cultivating reliable and trustful relationships with our customers and consequently, we are close to our customers’ needs”, says Douwe Zijp, Chief Executive Officer of Nunhems BV.

Nunhems with annual sales of EUR 180 million is among the world’s four leading vegetable seed companies and one of the most innovative seed companies in the world with an extensive range of 28 species and some 2,500 varieties. The company, originally founded in the Netherlands, has sites in North and South America, Asia and Europe as well as in the Middle East. Nunhems is active in research, plant breeding, production, processing and marketing and sales of vegetable varieties and smart concepts for the professional horticultural production and distribution business. The company has a global workforce of 1,100 and is represented in more than 20 countries.

Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6 billion, is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 19,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.newsroom.bayercropscience.com


NInvestment of 6 million Euros in a new seed processing warehouse and new research greenhouse
E-mail: u.dijkshoorn@nunhems.com
www.nunhems.com


Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer CropScience AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future consolidated results, financial situation, development or performance of the Bayer CropScience AG or our parent company, Bayer AG, and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer AG’s public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including Bayer AG’s Form 20-F). Neither Bayer AG nor Bayer CropScience AG assumes any liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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Annette Josten

Bayer CropScience

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