Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.,  filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania in Philadelphia today against former employee Thomas William Ishler.

The suit alleges Ishler took Pioneer proprietary material and information when he left Pioneer and
used it to develop hybrids at a major competitor. The suit asks for permanent injunctions and
unspecified damages. ``Strong seed lines are the lifeblood for plant genetics research,'' said Rick
McConnell, Pioneer senior vice president for research and product development. ``As we continue to make significant investments in genetic research we have to vigorously protect our germplasm on all fronts.'' Ishler, who lives in Leola, Penn., was a corn breeder for Pioneer from 1965 through 1989. He left Pioneer in 1989 for Cargill, Inc., where he worked until 1996.

The lawsuit against Ishler comes a day after Cargill said it had found "problem areas'' relating to the use of Pioneer's proprietary genetic material in its breeding program. This admission came following a lawsuit brought by Pioneer against Cargill on Oct. 28, 1998, for misappropriation of Pioneer's proprietary genetics.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., is the world's leading supplier of agricultural genetics and is the leading developer and integrator of agricultural technology. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer develops, produces, and markets a full line of seeds, forage/grain additives and services to grain and livestock producers, grain processors and other customers worldwide.

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