Basel, Switzerland
July 10, 2003

Syngenta announced today that the world’s first hybrid barley variety has been introduced in the United Kingdom. The variety - Colossus - a conventionally bred hybrid feed barley was approved earlier this year. The new barley has been specially bred for improved performance and demonstrates “hybrid vigor”, which translates into hardier crops and better yields.

Colossus will be sold in the United Kingdom as part of a first-of-its-kind crop production program -- the Hybrid Barley System. The System provides growers with the benefits of the new variety, three market-leading crop protection products - Syngenta’s fungicides AMISTAR® and UNIX® and plant growth regulator MODDUS®, as well as a comprehensive growing program. This program incorporates know-how gathered from research trials conducted by Syngenta over several years, under varied growing conditions. This powerful combination will enable growers to get the best from the variety from the first year. 

Syngenta’s trials have demonstrated that the Hybrid Barley System delivers yield improvements of 10% and more compared with standard barley varieties.

“Our new Hybrid Barley System provides a true benefit for growers,” said Jeff Beard, COO of Syngenta Seeds. “The combination of this innovative hybrid with our leading crop protection products and expert know-how will enable farmers to get the most from each and every hectare.”

Syngenta will market hybrid barley in Denmark, France and Germany once variety approvals have been received.

Swiss agrochemicals group  has, according to this story, introduced in Britain the world's first hybrid variety of barley, developed to be hardier and to improve yields.

The story says that the conventionally developed barley, called Colossus, was approved by British authorities for sale earlier this year.

British crop consultants were cited as saying hybrid barley varieties had not been grown until now because the crop was not seen as being as important as wheat and corn in the United States, where much of the technology has been developed.

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness. The company is a leader in crop protection and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2002 were approximately US $6.2 billion. Syngenta employs some 20,000 people in over 90 countries. The company is committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in London (SYA), New York (SYT) and Stockholm (SYN).