Syngenta, Dow AgroSciences Agree to Cross License Corn Traits

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and Basel, Switzerland, Syngenta and Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, today announced an agreement to cross license their respective corn traits for commercialization within their branded seed businesses. The agreement will allow both companies to maximize the value of their technologies and to bring greater choice and flexibility to growers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Syngenta will receive global non-exclusive licenses, with stacking rights, to Dow AgroSciences’ Herculex® I Insect Protection for broad lepidopteran control and to Herculex® RW for corn rootworm control.

Additionally, Dow AgroSciences will receive global non-exclusive licenses with stacking rights to Syngenta’s Agrisure® GT trait for glyphosate tolerance, and to its insect control traits Agrisure® CB/LL for corn borer and Agrisure® RW for corn rootworm. The licenses also include access to Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera™ trait for broad lepidoptera and to a second generation trait for corn rootworm control.

Davor Pisk, Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta Seeds, said, “We are very pleased to have reached this agreement which significantly expands the options available to growers while further demonstrating the value of our proprietary technology. The combination of Herculex® Insect Protection traits with our Agrisure® portfolio represents a major advance in insect control. From 2011 we plan to offer our U.S. customers multiple modes of action targeting refuge reduction and improved efficacy.”

Jerome Peribere, President and CEO of Dow AgroSciences, said,
“With the combination of technologies, corn growers will benefit from increased flexibility through their preferred trait platforms, and we continue to be pleased that growers find the industry-leading Herculex® technology to be a valuable option to increase productivity due to improved pest protection.”

Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

About Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world’s leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com.

About Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company that combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. Dow AgroSciences provides innovative technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology to serve the world’s growing population. Global sales for Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, were $4.5 billion in 2008. Learn more at www.dowagro.com.

Herculex® is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
Agrisure®, Agrisure Viptera™ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
Agrisure Viptera™ is not currently approved for sale or use in the U.S. and is not being offered or promoted for sale. Agrisure Viptera™ will not be available for sale until all necessary regulatory approvals and authorizations have been granted.

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