Bayer CropScience at the Potato Europe 2006 in Germany Innovative chemistry to protect potato crops

Infinito® and Biscaya® for control of both late blight and insects

Friday - September 8, 2006 Monheim (Germany) – Bayer CropScience has presented its new products Infinito® (Fluopicolide) and Biscaya® (Thiacloprid) at the Potato Europe 2006 as well as its versatile activities around potato crops – from planting to harvest. This fair is the leading event for professional potato growers and was held at the manor estate Rittergut Bockerode near Hannover on September 6 and 7. Infinito® has been launched very successfully this year in China, Korea and the UK. Further registrations in European countries, e.g. Germany, France and Poland, are expected in 2007. Biscaya® was brought into the British and German market in 2006.

Bayer CropScience works to address the expectations of the food industry. The company´s food supply chain experts will be on hand to inform potato growers, operators, food processors and packers about its “food chain” team. The members of this team work closely with partners in the international food chain and form an important link in the production process.

Bayer CropScience contributes its innovative product portfolio, which lead to a favorable residue profile, application technology, its expertise in “good agricultural practices”, Integrated Crop Management (ICM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and its international network to this partnership. The common goal is the production of high-quality potatoes, vegetables and fruits at a price which is affordable to the end consumer.


Long-lasting protection against potato late blight

Infinito® is a new-generation fungicide combining the active ingredient Fluopicolide with the established power of Propamocarb. These two active ingredients work “hand in hand” to deliver best possible potato protection. The result is a fast-acting, in all weather conditions long-lasting product with an anti-sporulant and translaminar effect. Results, based on multi-year field experiments and experience in large scale commercial trials, show that Infinito® when included in blight control programs provides robust control of late blight. More over, the product meets all regulatory requirements for product efficacy and safety. Bringing a favourable profile and low MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits), Infinito® is a modern tool that facilitates an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to blight control and enable growers to meet the quality assurance requirements of their food chain customers.

The new mode of action of Fluopicolide

The active ingredient Fluopicolide works by disorganizing the pathogen´s cell structure, disrupting the formation of spectrin-like proteins, believed to play a vital role in maintaining the pathogen´s cytoskeleton stability. This new mode of action is highly effective against the pathogen at all key stages in its life cycle. In particular, Fluopicolide is very effective to stop motile zoospores. The complete, long lasting control conferred by Infinito® keeps the entire plant free of disease during the critical phases.

Effective beetle and aphid control with Biscaya®

Potatoes are threatened by a large number of economically important pests, such as aphids, potato beetles, caterpillars, bugs, cicadas, wireworms and nematodes. The most important pests are colorado potato beetles and aphids. Aphids are responsible for transmitting virus diseases, which have a strong influence on quality and yield.

The upcoming resistance of aphids versus pyrethroids and carbamates in some European countries, e.g. UK, enables Biscaya® to introduce a new mode of action for a better resistance management program now also in potatoes. Biscaya®, based on the new O-TEQ formulation technology, is active on all aphid species and virus vectors and controls resistant species with its systemic and fast activity and the long-lasting efficacy.

Trials have shown the innovative O-TEQ formulation to provide excellent rainfastness, a continuous delivering of action and more flexible application timing. Biscaya® is harmless to pollinating insects, especially to honey and bumble-bees. The product is a new tool for resistance management and also applicable against pests in cereal, oilseed rape and other field crops.

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


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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Utz Klages

Corporate Policy & Media Relations Crop Protection

Bayer CropScience AG

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