Herculex® RW Rootworm, Herculex XTRA Trait Have Overseas Approvals

Biotech trait marketer issues clarification due to industry concern over export market approvals

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 27, 2007 - The Herculex® RW Rootworm Protection and the Herculex XTRA traits have full U.S. federal and all state regulatory approvals where marketed and have approval for import and for feed and food use in nine other countries. This includes Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Korea, Mexico, Philippines and Taiwan. Both traits are available to growers in corn hybrids from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

"We wanted to issue this clarifying statement to avoid confusion. Herculex RW and Herculex XTRA traits have import approval in the key corn importing countries," said Dean Oestreich, Pioneer president and DuPont vice president and general manager.

The Herculex RW and Herculex XTRA traits received full federal regulatory approval in the United States from the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture in 2005. Grain with these traits received import approval in 2006 from Japan, a major importer of corn grain. In addition, the grain trade has had detection methodology for the Herculex traits since they were first marketed in 2006.

Herculex RW provides a high level of in-plant root protection all season long against western, northern and Mexican larval corn rootworm and dramatically reduces adult rootworm emergence. Rootworm is the costliest insect pest in corn and the trait has proven extremely popular among North American corn growers.

Herculex XTRA contains both the Herculex I and Herculex RW traits. Herculex I protects the corn plant against European and southwestern corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm. This means that Herculex XTRA guards against a broader range of insects than other competitive products now available to growers. The Herculex I trait received U.S. federal regulatory approval in 2001 and Japanese import approval in 2002.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont , is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries. 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.

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04/27/07

Contact: Jerry Harrington
515-334-6908