Increased Fungicide Usage Drives Syngenta Manufacturing Investment

Demand for Azoxystrobin Prompts Production Upgrade •Sales for azoxystrobin reached $1 billion last year. •With U.S. patent protection until 2014, azoxystrobin is the foundation of the Syngenta fungicide portfolio.•Improvements at its facility in Omaha, Neb., will allow Syngenta to produce Quilt® fungicide at 10 times the current capacity.

Greensboro, NC (PRWEB) June 20, 2009 -- With its fungicide sales up 25 percent last year and a forecast for strong demand to continue, Syngenta Crop Protection is investing in a major expansion of manufacturing capacity for its leading fungicide, azoxystrobin. Azoxystrobin is the foundation of the fungicide portfolio and can be found in brands such as Quadris®, Quilt and Abound®.

Azoxystrobin is protected under U.S. patents until 2014.

Syngenta announced the capacity expansion program in 2008, when it began with a planned investment of $600 million worldwide over three years for azoxystrobin and the insecticide thiamethoxam. In the U.S., the Syngenta manufacturing site in Omaha will operate on a new system utilizing continuous formulation instead of the current batch process.

"With the new system we'll be able to produce Quilt at 10 times the old manufacturing rate," said Randy Schomers, Syngenta plant manager. "This will allow us to be much more flexible and responsive to customer needs."

Expansion at Omaha began in March 2009, and the new system is expected to be online by the first quarter of 2010.

Jamie Eichorn, Syngenta fungicide brand manager, said the investment decision was supported by the product's success to date, U.S. patent protection, and favorable long-term trends toward improving Plant Performance™.

"In 2008 fungicides became the largest Syngenta product category, led by azoxystrobin brands," Eichorn said. "Global sales of azoxystrobin surpassed $1 billion, and we expect demand to be strong long-term in the U.S. and globally."

For more information, please visit www.syngenta-us.com or www.farmassist.com.

Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com.

Media contacts:

Sarah Umstead

Gibbs & Soell, Inc. Public Relations

919-870-5718 or sumstead @ gibbs-soell.com

Wendell Calhoun

Syngenta Crop Protection

336-632-6000 or wendell.calhoun @ 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 therefore.

©2009 Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. P.O Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. Abound®, Plant Performance™, Quadris®, Quilt® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

###