Syngenta announced today that Delta and Pine Land Company will offer Avicta™ Complete Pak for the 2006 United States planting season. A breakthrough in seed treatment technology, Avicta Complete Pak provides enhanced protection against nematodes, insects and diseases.

“The combination of D&PL’s leadership position in the cotton seed market with Syngenta’s innovative seed treatment technology provides an unsurpassed level of convenience for today’s cotton grower,” said Kris Sirchio, Head of Syngenta Professional Products. “It delivers comprehensive early-season protection and removes the complexity associated with application timing and labor intensive handling required with current control methods.”

“We are excited to offer cotton growers in the US this most convenient and effective method of protection against all major early-season pests,” said Randy Dismuke, Senior Vice President, Delta and Pine Land. “Avicta Complete Pak is the first new nematode management option in more than 30 years. It couples nematode management with very effective insect and disease protection provided on the seed from the moment it is put into the soil. Coupling this product with D&PL’s superior varieties provides cotton farmers a new option for their farms.”

Avicta is the first seed treatment to prevent crop loss from nematodes, and is expected to give Syngenta leadership in a global market estimated at $500 to 600 million a year. Avicta Complete Pak is a combination of three Syngenta seed care products: Avicta, the insecticide Cruiser and the fungicide Dynasty CST.

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 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion. Syngenta employs some 20,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).

Delta and Pine Land Company (NYSE: DLP) is a leading commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed. Headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, with multiple offices in eight U.S. states and facilities in several countries, D&PL also breeds, produces and markets soybean planting seed in the U.S.