NEWS

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NEWS

Allegations against Monsanto by DuPont baseless
St. Louis, Missouri
March 30, 2000

Monsanto Company plans to vigorously defend against litigation, which, according to reports in the media, was filed late today by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company in federal court in Delaware. At this time, Monsanto has yet to be provided a copy of the claim.

Based on the reports made this evening, it appears the lawsuit seeks damages and other relief for the sale of products containing Monsanto's proprietary technology for Roundup Ready soybeans.
Following its review of the actual claim, Monsanto will determine what additional affirmative action it will take against DuPont.

"Monsanto has done nothing wrong, and will aggressively defend against all claims by DuPont,'' said David F. Snively, Monsanto's assistant general counsel for litigation. "We will continue to sell our Roundup Ready technology despite these reckless allegations that disparage our business. Last year, 38 million acres were planted in the United States with Roundup Ready soybeans, and we will continue to provide growers with the value they've received from this Monsanto innovation.''

Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans contain genes exclusively invented by Monsanto and then
developed over many years for commercial use. Monsanto developed the transformation technology for Roundup Ready soybeans with Agracetus, today owned by Monsanto, in 1992.

The technology was then inserted into public soybean varieties already commercially available from Asgrow, a Monsanto seed company. Monsanto was the first to gain regulatory approval for its technology, and brought Roundup Ready soybeans to the market in 1996.

"Monsanto is the sole developer of the technology that we sell today. DuPont's Pioneer Hybrid
International subsidiary has greatly benefited from this proprietary technology, which it has licensed and sold for several years without complaint,'' said Snively. He added that Monsanto recently brought suit to terminate this licensing agreement, alleging that the merger between DuPont and Pioneer rendered the terms of the license inoperable. 

Company news release
N2614

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