July 26, 2002 -- Syngenta has filed suit against Monsanto, DeKalb Genetics, Pioneer
Hi-Bred Internation, Delta and Pine Land Company,
Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds in Federal District Court in
Delaware. Specifically, Syngenta asserts that
YieldGard and Herculex I insect-resistant corn products and Roundup
Ready and Bollgard cotton products fall within
the scope of its patent rights. Syngenta is seeking damages and
injunctive relief to stop the other companies
from selling these products.

"It is clear that nothing short of this comprehensive action will stop
the ongoing violation of our intellectual
property rights," says David Jones, head of Plant Science at Syngenta.
"Our competitors are proceeding without regard
to our patents. We are prosecuting these actions to stop their
infringing activities."

Two separate lawsuits have been filed. In the first, Syngenta charges
that Monsanto, DeKalb Genetics, Pioneer Hi-Bred,
Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds are infringing one or more of U.S.
Patent No. 6,075,185, U.S. Patent No. 6,320,100, and
U.S. Patent No. 6,403,865. These patents cover synthetic Bt genes with
increased expression in corn and corn plants
resistant to insects such as European corn borer; patent cover includes
corn plants with such genes either alone
or stacked with other traits.

In a second lawsuit, Syngenta asserts that Monsanto and Delta and Pine
Land are infringing
U.S. Patent No. 6,051,757, which covers methods of transferring genes
into broadleaf plants such as
cotton and soybeans using agrobacterium and related methods of breeding.
This patent emanates from the work of
Syngenta scientist Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton, who is a co-inventor and was
the first to successfully insert transgenes
into plants.

These actions are unrelated to a patent interference proceeding between
Syngenta, Monsanto and other third parties
contesting rights to a US patent covering all transgenic broadleaf
plants per se, including soybeans, cotton and canola.