DuPont Science to Drive Increased Global Agricultural Productivity

DuPont Crop Genetics Research Leader Details New Technologies at Investors' Conference

NEW YORK, June 5, 2008 – DuPont science will help the world's farmers increase their productivity and meet the growing global demand for grain, said William S. Niebur, DuPont vice president -- DuPont Crop Genetics Research & Development, at an investors’ conference here today.

"This is an extraordinary time in agriculture globally. It is critical that we use our best scientific tools to ensure global food security through sustainable increases in agricultural productivity," Niebur said at the annual Merrill Lynch Agricultural Chemicals Conference. "We are aggressively deploying a broad range of molecular and field-based breeding approaches, computer modeling and advanced biotechnologies to ensure that farmers will be able to meet the global challenge to produce more food, feed and fuel."

"By bringing together a number of technological breakthroughs, DuPont, through its Pioneer Hi-Bred business, is targeting a 40 percent increase in yields from both its soybean and corn seed products in the next 10 years," Niebur said. Those advancements include:

• Elite Germplasm -- DuPont is mining and characterizing its leading corn and soybean genetics libraries for novel and high value characteristics that will help protect plants and boost yields in environments around the world.
• Accelerated Yield Technology™ -- DuPont is employing an industry-leading approach that harnesses the power of its germplasm collection, strong bioassays and molecular breeding tools to drive genetic gain at unprecedented rates. Products developed with Accelerated Yield Technology™ are on the market today and this matrix of technologies will drive genetic gain in future products.
• Optimum® GAT® -- This next-generation herbicide resistance for corn and soybeans will give growers additional flexibility and effectiveness for controlling the most challenging weeds. Niebur said that the traits are on track to meet regulatory milestones.
• Right Product Right Acre™ -- Key to maximizing farmer productivity is getting the right hybrid or variety matched with specific conditions and grower preferences and practices. DuPont is utilizing its extensive database of each of its seed products, as well as its intimate customer relationships, to help growers place the seed on the most appropriate acre.
• Optimum® AcreMax™ -- "Pioneer will be the first seed company, pending approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to help farmers increase productivity by making it possible for them to plant more of a given field to seed corn with the most advanced insect control options," Niebur said. This first of several Optimum® AcreMax™ products will be launched as early as 2009, pending regulatory approval.

Longer term, Niebur said that DuPont will be introducing products that provide novel, native and transgenic drought tolerance and nitrogen use efficiency traits that will complement the industry-leading products that the company sells today. Both research areas are making strong progress through a number of different approaches, he said.

Niebur said past and current strategic investments in science and new talent are paying off significantly for its customers and for DuPont. "We expect to hold Pioneer North America corn market share and expand our market lead internationally this year," Niebur said. "We expect to grow DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition segment sales by 6 to 8 percent and earnings by more than 15 percent on average between 2007 and 2010.”

Today’s presentation can be found at the Investor Center of the company’s website.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company’s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “indicates,” and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in DuPont’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance, and seasonality of sales of agricultural products.

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6/5/08

Contact:
Patrick Arthur
515-334-6515

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