Monsanto Company (Press Release)

Monsanto And Zeneca Announce Global Agreement For Touchdown On Roundup Ready Crops

Monsanto Company and Zeneca Agrochemicals today announced a long-term license agreement on undisclosed terms under which Zeneca will test, develop and register "Touchdown" herbicide products for use on or over the top of Roundup Ready soybeans, corn and cotton in the United States. Under the agreement, Zeneca, once it has obtained U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration, will sell Touchdown herbicide for application on or over the top of these crops.

Additionally, Monsanto and Zeneca have agreed to negotiate in good faith access to additional Roundup Ready crops in the United States and to all Roundup Ready crops globally, as they are commercialized. Negotiations for commercial access after the second commercial season will occur on a country and crop basis. Under this agreement, Zeneca would test, develop and register its products while negotiations are taking place. As part of the agreement, Zeneca, Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. have agreed to dismiss the lawsuits they have pending against each other in Delaware and Missouri. These relate to the use of Touchdown over Roundup Ready crops and related Monsanto patents, and to Monsanto's marketing practices. Monsanto's Roundup and Zeneca's Touchdown herbicides will compete with each other in the agricultural weed control market. As a life sciences company, Monsanto (NYSE:MTC) is committed to finding solutions to the growing global needs for food and health by sharing common forms of science and technology among agriculture, nutrition and health. The company's 30,000 employees worldwide make and market high-value agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients. Zeneca Agrochemicals is the crop protection and plant sciences business of the Zeneca Group. Zeneca Group PLC (NYSE:ZEN) is a $9.1 billion international bioscience company which provides products and services to improve human health, nutrition and the quality of life. The group, which employs some 32,000 people world-wide, is engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (prescription) pharmaceuticals, agricultural and specialty chemicals products and the supply of healthcare services. Note to editors: Roundup and Roundup Ready are trademarks of Monsanto Company. Touchdown is a trademark of Zeneca Limited. For additional information, please contact: Monsanto: Lisa Drake
(314) 694-3540 Zeneca Agrochemicals: Stuart R. Shields
UK: 011-44-428-657096

Zeneca, Inc.: Ed Ready
(302) 886-1184