December 20, 2000

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., will postpone sales of PioneerŽ brand corn hybrids that contain a combination of the YieldGard gene and LibertyLink gene for the 2001 growing season to minimize confusion in the marketplace for its customers, according to a company statement.

Pioneer will continue to market hybrids that individually contain the YieldGard gene and the LibertyLink gene. The hybrids affected by todayšs announcement include only six of the more than 200 hybrids Pioneer sells in North America. By removing hybrids with the combined traits from the market, Pioneer reduces one source of grain from the 2001 corn crop that is not yet approved for import into the European Union (EU).

These hybrids have both full feed and food approval in all major markets except for the EU. In addition, the YieldGard and LibertyLink corn traits have been approved individually in the EU, just not in combination in a single hybrid.

"As the industry leader, wešve chosen to take steps that will help our customers market their grain with confidence in the 2001 growing season,"said Rick McConnell, president of Pioneer. "We made this move to eliminate a potential point of confusion for our customers. Now, when purchasing Pioneer brand corn and soybean seed products, they can be assured that all the traits in the seed we market is approved for import as grain around the world."

"This postponement does not diminish our commitment to biotechnology now or in the future," said McConnell. "We will redouble our efforts to extend open communications with all members of the food chain to resolve this on-going issue of import approval and the grain marketing challenges associated with it."