Wilmington, Delaware and Lai Zhou, China
December 11, 2002

DuPont today announced the establishment of a commercial agricultural seed business in the People's Republic of China.

DuPont subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., the world's largest seed company, has formed a joint venture with one of China's largest seed companies, Denghai Seed Group, to produce top- performing corn seed for Chinese farmers.

"Today is the culmination of many years of work to leverage the Pioneer expertise and elite seed lines in this huge agriculture market," said Dean Oestreich, Pioneer vice president.

With 25 million hectares in corn production, China is second only to the United States in the amount of land producing corn. Consumption within China of corn for livestock feed is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years.

Pioneer established a business office in Beijing in 1997. A year later it established a research center near Tieling City in the Liaoning province and began breeding and testing corn hybrids for commercialization in China. The country's membership in the World Trade Organization along with a new seed law helped ensure that those hybrids would be made available to Chinese farmers.

The new joint venture, Shandong Denghai Pioneer Seeds Co., Ltd., will develop and distribute high-yielding corn hybrids for the summer corn markets, which represent about one third of the total corn market in China. The joint venture plans to have new hybrids in those markets in 2004.

Denghai Seeds has 30 years experience in corn breeding and research for Chinese markets. It markets its products in over 27 provinces, cities and the near-by regions.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, 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, crop protection solutions, and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries.

During 2002, DuPont (NYSE: DD) is celebrating its 200th year of scientific achievement and innovation -- providing products and services that improve the lives of people everywhere. Based in Wilmington, Del., DuPont delivers science-based solutions for markets that make a difference in people's lives in food and nutrition, health care, apparel, home and construction, electronics, and transportation.