Novartis Seeds, Inc. and Zeneca Ag Products introduce new ProShield* technology with Force® ST insecticide. The first seed-delivered corn rootworm control, this innovation will help farmers conveniently control corn rootworm and other soil insects.  Novartis Seeds developed ProShield technology, a proprietary, patented seed coating system that conveniently and accurately delivers protection to corn plants through direct application of insecticide to the seed. ProShield technology from Novartis Seeds allows a precise amount of active ingredient to be applied to each seed, ensuring uniform performance.

The new Force ST formulation from Zeneca was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in June 1999 for commercial seed treatment of field corn, popcorn, seed corn and sweet corn. Combined with Novartis' ProShield technology, it protects germinating seeds and growing corn plants against rootworm, cutworm, white grub, wireworm and seed corn maggot. ProShield technology is expected to be priced similarly to full-rate granular insecticides on a per acre basis.

"The major advantage that ProShield technology with Force ST offers to farmers is time-savings and convenience," according to Gary Powell, Novartis Seeds Director of New Product Development. "Growers can buy selected NK® brand hybrids and the leading corn insecticide in one bag."

"As the first company to market this new technology for the 2000 planting season, we are launching the product with selected NK® brand hybrids and we'll offer it with additional hybrids in subsequent years," adds Marc Hennen, Novartis Seeds Corn Marketing Manager.

Corn rootworm is the primary target pest in corn production with approximately one-fourth of the corn acreage in the U.S. being treated with a corn soil insecticide. Traditionally, soil insecticides have been used on continuous corn, but insecticide-treated acreage continues to grow because corn rootworm increasingly attacks first-year corn. This pest, which prunes the roots of young plants, is estimated to cost U.S. growers in excess of a billion dollars a year in lost yields.

"Extensive testing by Zeneca and Novartis has shown that, with proper management, Force ST delivered by ProShield technology provides effective control of rootworm, cutworm, white grub and wireworm," said Dale Chaney, insecticides market lead at Zeneca. Field trials were conducted over the past three years to measure root ratings, stand counts and percent cut plants in fields treated with Force ST insecticide. This season, Novartis Seeds is conducting wide-scale on-farm testing of ProShield technology with Force ST insecticide at more than 120 locations.

Novartis Seeds, Inc. is a leading agriculture and biotechnology research organization that develops genetics and value-added products, and produces and sells corn, soybean, alfalfa, sunflower, sorghum, wheat, sugarbeet, vegetable and flower seeds. Novartis Seeds, Inc. is a U.S.
affiliate of Novartis, a world leader in Life Sciences with core businesses in Healthcare, Agribusiness and Consumer Health (Nutrition and Self-Medication). In 1998, Novartis Group sales were $21.8 billion, of which $12 billion were in Healthcare, $5.8 billion in Agribusiness, and $4 billion in Consumer Health. The group annually invests more than $2.6 billion in research and development. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis employs about 82,000 people and operates in over 140 countries around the world. The company's U.S. headquarters are located in Summit, N.J.

Based in the United Kingdom, AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN) is a major $15.8 billion international bioscience business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (prescription) pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, and the supply of healthcare services. Zeneca Ag Products is a business unit of Zeneca Inc. in the United States and Zeneca Agro is a business unit of Zeneca Corp. in Canada. Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of AstraZeneca PLC. Zeneca Ag Products and Zeneca Agro together form a $1 billion North American agrochemical business with approximately 1,700 employees.

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