Oxnard, California
January 29, 2003

Seminis Inc. (Nasdaq: SMNS), the world's largest developer, grower and marketer of vegetable and fruit seeds, has secured exclusive marketing rights to broccoli containing as much as 80 times more potential cancer-fighting ability than standard broccoli. The broccoli was developed by Dr. Richard Mithen in a traditional plant breeding program at the John Innes Centre (Norwich UK) and is licensed to Seminis by Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL), a UK-based technology management company.

Seminis said that the broad marketing agreement with PBL provides the exclusive right to transform the new basic broccoli lines into commercial products for the fresh produce, functional food and nutritional supplement markets, among others. In return, PBL will receive a royalty. Other details of the agreement remain confidential.

According to Seminis, company researchers are currently crossbreeding the broccoli plants having high levels of glucosinolates -- a naturally occurring cancer-fighter -- with commercial varieties adapted to important production areas. Since environmental and horticultural factors can affect the concentrations of glucosinolates in broccoli, Seminis is determining which growing conditions and production practices can optimize these levels.

"Taking full advantage of our genetic databank (germplasm) -- the largest in the world -- we have been able, through our own research capabilities and partnerships, to change the way vegetables are developed. In addition to our traditional focus on grower requirements, we have geared our research toward consumer needs and preferences; in this case, providing nutritious vegetables with enhanced health benefits," said Seminis President Eugenio Najera.

Dr. Ed Green, senior vice president of research and development, noted: "We have the worldwide research and product development network to ensure that consumers around the globe can benefit from this breakthrough made by Dr. Mithen's research, and brought to us by PBL. By partnering with companies such as PBL that bring together technology from a wide network of public sector research, Seminis can cost-effectively combine its diverse plant breeding resources with a broad range of promising innovations."

Seminis invests about $45 million each year in R&D and maintains more than 100 collaborative agreements with public and private organizations. Globally, the company sells more than 4,000 varieties of vegetables and fruits, including 120 varieties of broccoli.

"Our agreement with a company with the development capability and global reach of Seminis allows us to maximize the commercial development of this research," said Rufus Charles, PBL business development manager. "This ensures academic breakthroughs become broadly available for public use and benefit. The royalties received will also allow us to invest in new innovations at the institutes and universities that provide intellectual property to us."

The nutritionally improved broccoli was developed through a traditional breeding process by Dr. Richard Mithen and colleagues at the John Innes Centre. The research took more than five years to complete. PBL holds the rights to the new broccoli material.

Seminis believes that commercial products can be ready for widespread trialing in three to four years. Salvador Alanis, Seminis vice president of strategic support, said that the company has received requests and initiated discussions with potential downstream partners to bring these value-added products to market. "This health-enhancing broccoli is another example of how Seminis is growing value for the food industry, and we are pleased about the level of excitement it has generated. We are very interested in working with organizations that share our innovative spirit to make this breakthrough widely available for health-conscious consumers," he said.

According to nutrition experts, glucosinolates are not active in the body, but their breakdown products help detoxify carcinogens (cancer-causing toxins) and suppress the growth of existing cancerous tumors. In addition, research published last May in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that breakdown products of glucosinolate, abundant in some broccoli, thwart a bacteria associated with a gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Starting this March, a two-year independent research study on humans will shed more light on how glucosinolates and their breakdown products interact with the body.

Seminis maintains a worldwide presence and global distribution network that spans 150 countries and
territories. The company's products reduce the need for agricultural chemicals, increase crop yield, reduce spoilage, offer longer shelf life, offer better tasting foods and foods with better nutritional content.

Plant Bioscience Limited, based in Norwich, U.K., is an independent technology and intellectual property management company specializing in plant and microbial sciences. The company manages and commercializes research conducted by leading plant and microbial science laboratories around the world.