Lexar™ has been selected by Syngenta Crop Protection as the brand name for its newest corn herbicide. Awaiting EPA approval, Lexar is designed to deliver improved one-pass, pre-emergence weed control across the central and southern regions of the Corn Belt.

Lexar is a customized blend of three proven Syngenta herbicides designed specifically for the soils and weed spectrum of the central and southern Corn Belt, providing unprecedented season long, annual broadleaf and grass weed control in one application. With improved control of giant ragweed, sunflower and cocklebur, the weed control spectrum of Lexar encompasses the most prevalent grass and broadleaf weed species such as waterhemp, velvetleaf and most annual grasses, including weed species resistant or increasingly tolerant to triazine, ALS-inhibiting and glyphosate herbicides.

Joining Callisto™, Camix™ and LUMAX® brand herbicides developed for the U.S. corn market, Lexar will be included in herbicide trials throughout the Corn Belt in 2004, offering growers and dealers an opportunity to compare this one-pass treatment with other popular weed control programs.

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).