Basel, Switzerland
June 26, 2002

The Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture today announced that Dr. Andrew Bennett has been appointed executive director of the Foundation, effective September 1, 2002.

Dr. Bennett has more than 35 years experience in international development in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean. Most recently he was director, Rural Livelihoods and Environment, for the British Department for International Development in London. In this role, he served as an advisor to government ministers on policy and programs to improve rural livelihoods, natural resource management, environmental protection, sustainable development and research in international development.

"Andrew's management and field experience, research capabilities and policy analysis expertise make him an ideal choice to lead the Foundation," said Heinz Imhof, chairman of Syngenta and president of the Board of Trustees for the Syngenta Foundation. "He will play a key role in framing and implementing the Syngenta commitment to improving the livelihood of resource poor farmers."

Bennett has a doctorate at the University of Cranfield, a Masters degree from Reading University and a diploma in tropical agriculture from the University of West Indies, Trinidad. He is a member of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

"Through the vision and energy of Klaus Leisinger, interim director, the Syngenta Foundation already has set its mark in building effective partnerships addressing the challenges of poverty, hunger and environmental degradation," said Bennett. "I am excited by the opportunity to expand upon these achievements."

Launched in 2001 and based in Basel, Switzerland, the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture is dedicated to addressing sustainable security of food supplies in the poorest regions of the world through collaborative research projects and public policy discussions.