Allegations against Monsanto and others by Syngenta baseless

St. Louis, Missouri
July 26, 2002

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) said today it will vigorously defend itself against two baseless lawsuits, both filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware by units of Swiss-based Syngenta.

"Syngenta is threatening American corn and cotton farmers without attempting to resolve their dispute outside the courtroom," said David F. Snively, assistant general counsel for Monsanto. "These patent infringement claims are first being voiced by Syngenta years after insect-protected corn and cotton technologies developed by Monsanto have been successfully used by American farmers."

In one of the suits, Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., sued Monsanto and Delta and Pine Land Company. In the other suit, Syngenta Seeds, Inc., sued Monsanto; DEKALB Genetics Corp.; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; Dow Agrosciences, LLC, Mycogen Plant Science, Inc.; and Agrigentics, Inc.

In the past, Novartis -- which is now part of Syngenta -- sued Monsanto and DEKALB for patent infringement involving corn technology in the same federal court -- and lost. In 1998, a jury determined that Monsanto and DEKALB were not liable and the Novartis patent was invalid. "We're confident that this is another case that when the facts are brought forward, it will be obvious that Monsanto is not liable since it did not infringe a patent, and that others in the scientific field were the first to innovate and bring forward insect-protected corn and cotton technologies," Snively said.

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farmproductivity and food quality.

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