Menlo Park, California
March 12, 2002

Landec Corporation (Nasdaq: LNDC), announced today that its wholly owned agricultural subsidiary, Landec Ag, Inc., realized successful results in 2001 from its Intellicoat(R) coated Early Plant(TM) hybrid corn program.

As part of its market introduction, Landec Ag's patented Intellicoat polymer coatings for corn seed were tested extensively in university and research trials, while at the same time sold commercially to farmers under the Fielder's Choice Direct(R) brand. The coated seeds were sold and used successfully on 150 farms covering over 3,000 acres across 21 states in a variety of growing conditions. The farmers who used the coated seeds provided the field data and critical feedback which has been analyzed and summarized.

The program results demonstrate that the Intellicoat Early Plant hybrid corn coatings improved yields of hybrid corn that was planted two to three weeks earlier than normal planting dates. The Intellicoat coated seeds provided higher plant populations, more uniform emergence and achieved better yields in comparison to uncoated seeds planted at the same time. Intellicoat coated seeds showed an average yield advantage over uncoated seeds planted at the same time and even more importantly, an advantage over uncoated seeds planted at the normal corn planting date.

"We were able to see good yield improvements from seeds coated with Intellicoat polymer this past spring which was generally a mild spring weather-wise. We would expect even greater yield improvement during cold, harsh spring conditions," states Tom Crowley, Landec Ag President and CEO. "Landec Ag has evaluated the Intellicoat Early Plant hybrid corn technology for two years and will broadly launch Intellicoat Early Plant hybrid corn products in 2003. In addition to selling directly to farmers, we expect our technology to be commercially licensed to other seed companies in the next couple of years."

Because of the positive results in 2001, Landec Ag has initiated collaborations with a number of the industry's top seed corn companies. Eight of the top US seed companies will conduct separate evaluations of the Intellicoat Early Plant hybrid corn technology on their own hybrids during 2002. Successful results could lead to licensed partnerships as early as 2003. 

For the upcoming 2002 growing season, Landec Ag will expand its commercial sales of Intellicoat Early Plant hybrid corn, through Fielder's Choice Direct, to over 500 farms covering between 17,000 to 20,000 acres, up from 150 farms and 3,000 acres in 2001.

"Those farmers already aware of the technology are very excited about the potential," added Crowley. "A study recently conducted by an independent market research company indicated one in four corn acres could eventually be planted with this technology as it becomes widely available." The total corn acres in the US alone represent approximately 78 million acres annually with an annual market value of approximately $2 billion per year.

Intellicoat seed coatings for early planting prevent planted seeds from absorbing water when the ground temperature is below the coating's pre-set temperature switch. Intellicoat seed coatings are designed to enable seeds to be planted early into cold soils without risk of chilling damage caused by the absorption of water at cold soil temperatures. As soil temperatures rise to a pre-determined switch temperature, the polymer's permeability increases and the coated seed absorbs water and begins to germinate. This allows the seed to have uniform germination, good stand counts and increased yields, giving the farmer more flexibility and better utilization of equipment and labor.

Another Intellicoat technology, known as Pollinator Plus(TM), is already being used by 30 major seed companies in the production of hybrid seed corn. In this application, the coating delays germination of the male inbred corn in order to widen the pollination window to increase yields, minimize risks in the production of seed corn and reduce production costs. Seed companies are rapidly increasing their use of this technology. In 2002 Pollinator Plus will be planted on approximately 50,000 acres as compared to 20,000 acres in 2001.

Also on the commercial horizon is another Intellicoat application, Relay(TM) Intercropping of wheat and Intellicoat coated soybeans, that enables central and northern Corn Belt farmers, whose growing season is normally too short for double cropping, to successfully inter-plant coated soybeans between rows of wheat and gain more revenue by harvesting two crops off the same field in the same year. This Intellicoat application is in its third year of successful commercial on-farm trials.

For more information about Intellicoat Early Plant Technology, and to receive a copy of the program results call Landec Ag, Inc. 1-800-241-7252.

Landec Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and sells temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food, agricultural and licensed partner applications. The Company's temperature-activated polymer products are based on its proprietary Intelimer(R) polymers which differ from other polymers in that they can be customized to abruptly change their physical characteristics when heated or cooled through a pre-set temperature switch.