Syngenta announced today the introduction of a new corn herbicide, LEXAR™, in the USA. LEXAR™ delivers superior season-long, pre-emergence weed control. The product will be available for the 2005 season and is specifically designed for the needs of growers in the central and southern corn-growing regions of the USA.

With its recent registration by the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), LEXAR™ is approved for use on all field corn varieties. LEXAR™ is a new herbicide in the CALLISTO® range, a product family with sales of $243 million in the first six months of 2004.

“LEXAR™ is a powerful product that provides broad-spectrum weed control with a single application,” said John Atkin, Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta Crop Protection. “LEXAR™ targets soil conditions and problem weeds specific to the central and southern US corn-growing areas. It will complement LUMAX® herbicide, which is designed for the northern geography. Enlarging our successful CALLISTO® range will allow us to further build on our market leading position in US corn.”

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2003 were approximately $6.6 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).