Erik Fyrwald, group vice president – DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition, yesterday addressed industry analysts and investors attending the Goldman Sachs Eighth Annual Agricultural Forum in New York City. Erik discussed recent performance in the Agriculture & Nutrition platform, as well as drivers of future growth.

"The DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition platform continues to outpace the competition. We achieved significant growth for the second straight year while positioning ourselves for another great year in 2004. Our focus is clear: serve the customer and drive profitable growth," Erik said.

Erik reported that revenue for the platform grew by 21 percent in 2003 with a 17 percent increase in earnings. This performance was driven by strong penetration in seed products containing input traits, strong growth in crop protection specialty markets, significant cost reductions, and superb operating discipline.

Growth in Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. was driven by strong demand for its seed products with biotech traits. Erik noted that Pioneer is in the midst of the largest technology launch in its 77-year history. The 2004 new product portfolio includes new elite genetics, new insecticide seed treatments, new biotech traits and new combinations of biotech traits.

DuPont extended its reach into the soy food business in 2003 with the creation of The Solae Company, a DuPont majority owned joint venture with Bunge Ltd. DuPont also acquired Griffin LLC in 2003, enabling our Crop Protection business to offer a complete product line for cotton and potato farmers.

Referencing the company's focus on emerging markets, Erik noted that in 2003 the Agriculture & Nutrition segment showed exceptional growth in Brazil. Segment revenues and earnings grew, with strong contributions from Pioneer, Crop Protection and The Solae Company. He said that DuPont sees Brazil as an important growth market for the Agriculture & Nutrition segment, and expects continued growth investments in the region.