BioCrossroads and Dow AgroSciences LLC announced today that Dr. Ronald L. Meeusen will be a "loaned executive" to BioCrossroads effective January 5, 2004. This unique arrangement involving Meeusen, Global Leader, Research and Development - Plant Genetics and Biotechnology for Dow AgroSciences, marks a new level of corporate participation in BioCrossroads, Central Indiana's aggressive effort to grow its life sciences industry.

Meeusen's role will focus on developing specific collaborations between Central Indiana's research universities, government and private industry while establishing dedicated life sciences capital investments from public and private sources, particularly in agbiotech and health.

David Goodrich, president of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and co-founder of BioCrossroads said, "One of our challenges as a public-private partnership is to stay attuned to the needs of private industry in the life sciences sector. Bringing in a respected corporate leader like Meeusen will allow us to stay connected to a very complex marketplace."

"Ron will be a great asset for the BioCrossroads organization," said Pete Siggelko, vice president, Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Dow AgroSciences. "Ron's involvement with BioCrossroads will help further develop Central Indiana as a leader in the life sciences area and help area companies, such as Dow AgroSciences, identify early stage opportunities."

Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke said: "Dow AgroSciences has been a strong partner in the effort to enhance the life sciences sector of Indiana's economy. The company's decision to commit the services of one of its key executives to the BioCrossroads initiative will further strengthen the consortium, and we look forward to building on the success of this important initiative."

BioCrossroads' focus on agbiotech is a result of a targeting study released in February 2002 that identified eight areas of greatest strength and market growth potential. Target teams were then formed to identify potential commercialization opportunities and collaborations in each area. Meeusen co-chairs the agbiotech team along with Janet Giesselman, vice president, Corporate Affairs for Dow AgroSciences. This team is currently evaluating several collaborations and commercialization opportunities, such as plant-based animal vaccines and the improvement of seed quality testing. The team is also looking at ways to leverage supplier lists to recruit companies to the area.

Meeusen joined Dow AgroSciences in early January of 1998 as Global R&D Leader for Plant Genetics and Biotechnology. Previously, he worked at Asgrow Seed Company, where he led their worldwide breeding and biotechnology R&D in vegetables. When Asgrow merged with PetoSeed and Royal Sluis to form Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Ron served as their Research Director for the Americas. Meeusen received his Ph.D. in plant cell physiology from U.C. Berkeley and has also held positions at Rohm and Haas and Sandoz.

BioCrossroads is Central Indiana's life science network, a public-private collaboration that supports the region's research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. Central Indiana is a global life sciences hub, with 900 private companies employing a skilled workforce of over 85,000, working with multiple nationally-recognized research institutions. With government, industry and academic resources aligned to accelerate business growth, the region is fertile ground for investors and entrepreneurs to build new ventures.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to the health and quality of life of the world's growing population. Dow AgroSciences has approximately 6,000 people in over 50 countries dedicated to its business, and has worldwide sales of US $2.7 billion. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.