BASEL, Switzerland, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Syngenta announced that yesterday it received the 2008 World Business and Development Award (WBDA) for the development and successful introduction of a new sugar beet that can be grown under tropical climate conditions and brings significant advantages to farmers, the environment, the sugar and ethanol industries and the economy. The WBDA, presented by the United Nations Development Program, the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Business Leaders Forum, acknowledge the contribution of the private sector to help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. The award recognized Syngenta's tropical sugar beet as "an example of technological innovation that helps increase sustainable agricultural productivity to meet the world's growing demand for food, feed and fuel." "We are very proud of this achievement. It is a reminder of the importance of the work we do in addressing the challenges of feeding a growing population and finding alternative energy sources," said Martin Taylor, Chairman of Syngenta. "Tropical sugar beet is also a good example of sustainable agriculture, since it improves land use and helps water management. It also illustrates how Syngenta works in partnership with agriculture in developing countries around the world." About tropical sugar beet Tropical sugar beet can be grown in relatively dry areas as it requires substantially less water than sugar cane. The beets are also faster growing, allowing farmers to grow a second crop on their land in the same period as sugarcane crops take to mature. This increases farmers' productivity and income, bringing significant benefits also to the agricultural sector of developing markets. Tropical sugar beet delivers similar output yields to sugar cane and can be used both for processing sugar for food and conversion to bio-ethanol. An alternative to cane, it supports biodiversity when used in areas with extensive sugar cane monocultures. It took Syngenta 11 years to develop tropicalized sugar beet. In 2007, the beet was successfully introduced in India. In the State of Maharashtra, for example, Syngenta helped a cooperation of more than 12,000 smallhold farmers to build and operate a bio-ethanol production plant that runs on Syngenta tropical beet. In Colombia, the building has started of two beet-to-ethanol plants, which are expected to start processing tropical sugar beet in 2009. Syngenta is currently conducting adaptation trials in many other tropical countries such as China, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico and in the USA. For further information and pictures: http://www.syngenta.com/en/media/newstopics.28.08.2007.html Footage material can be downloaded under: http://syngenta.mediaseed.tv/ About Syngenta 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 2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs over 21,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at http://www.syngenta.com/. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor. Syngenta International AG Media Office CH-4002 Basel Switzerland Tel: +41 61 323 23 23 Fax: +41 61 323 24 24 http://www.syngenta.com/ Media contacts: Medard Schoenmaeckers Switzerland +41 61 323 2323 Anne Burt USA +1 202 628 2372 Analyst/Investor contacts: Jennifer Gough Switzerland +41 61 323 5059 USA +1 202 737 6521 John Hudson Switzerland +41 61 323 6793 USA +1 202 737 6520 DATASOURCE: Syngenta CONTACT: Syngenta International AG, Media Office, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland, Tel: +41-61-323-23-23, Fax: +41-61-323-24-24; or Medard Schoenmaeckers, Switzerland, +41-61-323-2323, Anne Burt, USA +1-202-628-2372; Analyst/Investor contacts: Jennifer Gough, Switzerland +41-61-323-5059, USA +1-202-737-6521, or John Hudson, Switzerland +41-61-323-6793, USA +1-202-737-6520 Web site: http://www.syngenta.com/

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