Syngenta announced today that scientists from the company's Torrey Mesa Research Institute (TMRI) will release its rice genome map when it publishes its first major analysis of the rice genome. The completion of the sequence provides a solid foundation to help unlock the secrets for improving crops.

Syngenta proposed a new cooperative effort that would accelerate the work of various public and private rice genome efforts around the world. The initiative is intended to bring together public and private researchers to coordinate research efforts, avoid duplication and ensure the timely delivery of a finished rice genome sequence in a public domain, such as GenBank.

"Understanding the rice genome offers tremendous opportunities to researchers and the public for improving future agricultural products," said Dr. Steven Briggs, president of TMRI and head of Genomics at Syngenta. "A global initiative that pools existing research with the objective of completing the sequence will advance the interest of science and society," he added.

Science will publish the information in its April 5 edition. Then academic researchers will be able to access the data, without reach-through rights, through the TMRI website ( www.TMRI.org) or, with the consent of their research institution, via a CD-Rom. Additionally, Syngenta has offered the sequence to the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) to aid in the public effort to finish the sequence. Data will be provided to commercial researchers through an agreement with Syngenta.

"This approach to sharing data will allow Syngenta to contribute to building agricultural knowledge in the public domain, and protect the commercial value of our investment," said Briggs. "We already are using the map to accelerate the improvement of other grain crops."

Syngenta was the first organization to fund the IRGSP in the United States by providing a $3 million grant to Clemson University. The grant was used to create the framework for sequencing the rice genome. Syngenta authorized the release to GenBank of the first large body of rice genome DNA sequence-30 million nucleotides. Since then, the company provided an additional 15 million
nucleotides.

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness. The company ranks first in crop protection and third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2001 were approximately US $6.3 billion. Syngenta employs more than 20,000 people in over 50 countries. The company is committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange and in London, New York and Stockholm.