Press Releases

Forage Genetics, Mycogen Corporation and New Mexico State University have formed a three-way research and development collaboration designed to improve the forage quality of alfalfa. The initial focus of the program will be the development of transgenic alfalfa plants with modified protein composition to enhance efficiency of utilization by cattle and other ruminant animals.

Mycogen and New Mexico State University will contribute alfalfa transformation and gene technology and Forage Genetics will contribute alfalfa germplasm. "We will be incorporating novel proteins that largely bypass ruminal degradation," says Dr. Marcia Endres, animal nutrition manager for Mycogen Seeds. "Increased protein bypass should significantly improve the feeding value of alfalfa."

"We are excited about the collaboration with Mycogen on output traits for alfalfa," adds Dr. Mark McCaslin, president of Forage Genetics. "And both companies agree on a strategy of broadly licensing the technology once it's developed."

"Industry estimates place the value of the U.S. alfalfa crop at about $1.35 billion a year," says Irv Parker, Mycogen Seeds vice president of new product development. "This protein enhancement trait has the potential to increase that value by 25 percent."

Forage Genetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Research Seeds, Inc. of St. Joseph, Missouri, is an industry leader in the research, development and marketing of value-added alfalfa technologies. Research Seeds is recognized as a worldwide leader in the development, production and marketing of proprietary forage and turf seed.

Mycogen is a diversified agribusiness and biotechnology company that develops and markets seeds and value-added traits for genetically enhanced crops and provides crop protection products and services. Mycogen (Nasdaq: MYCO) is majority owned by Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW).

For more information about Mycogen, please call 1-888-SEE-MYCO (1-888-733-6926) or visit Mycogen's website at www.mycogen.com .

For more information contact:
Dr. Mark McCaslin
Forage Genetics
(608)786-2121
mccaslin@centuryinter.net
or
Pat Arthur
Mycogen Seeds
(612)405-5953
arthurp@mycogen.com

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