Diversa Corporation (Nasdaq: DVSA) today announced that it has received milestone payments of $1.7 million under its agreements with Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) for achievements attained in 2003. In the past year, Diversa delivered several product candidates for feed and food processing applications to Zymetrics, its joint venture with Syngenta, triggering development milestones payments. Additionally, Zymetrics' Quantum(TM) Phytase animal feed enzyme received regulatory approval in Mexico.

"We are pleased to announce significant progress in 2003 in the commercialization of differentiated agricultural products through our broad relationship with Syngenta," stated William H. Baum, Diversa's Executive Vice President. "Quantum Phytase represents the first product to be developed and commercialized through Zymetrics and supports the joint venture's objective of delivering differentiated protein-based products with superior performance."

Zymetrics is focused on the development and marketing of enzyme-based products and processes designed to enhance the nutritional content of animal feeds, improve the feed cost and performance of animals, minimize the environmental impact of animal production, and enable new opportunities for novel products from the processing of agricultural outputs. Diversa is receiving research support from Syngenta, and will participate in profit sharing on products commercialized by the joint venture.

Diversa Corporation is a leader in applying proprietary genomic technologies for the rapid discovery and optimization of novel products from genes and gene pathways. Diversa is directing its integrated portfolio of technologies to the discovery, evolution, and production of commercially valuable molecules with pharmaceutical applications, such as optimized monoclonal antibodies and orally active drugs, as well as enzymes and small molecules with agricultural, chemical, and industrial applications. In addition, Diversa has formed alliances and joint ventures with market leaders, such as BASF, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont Bio-Based Materials, Givaudan Flavors Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Invitrogen Corporation, and affiliates of Syngenta AG.