Bothwell, Washington
April 5, 2000

A revolutionary change is about to hit agricultural production, and it promises to help growers produce crops much more efficiently and safely than ever before.

EDEN Bioscience introduces a completely new class of crop production and plant protection technology. This technology will be offered via Messenger®, the first product that offers growers a novel, effective and environmentally sound tool for plant disease management; plant growth enhancement; and insect, mite and nematode suppression. As a result, Messenger can dramatically reduce or replace the need for many traditional chemical pesticides, thereby decreasing risk to the environment. Messenger is not currently registered for use or sale in the United States. EPA registration is anticipated within the next few weeks.

"We are on the cusp of another revolution in agriculture,'' said Jerry Butler, president and CEO of EDEN Bioscience, Bothell, Wash. "Messenger technology has the capability to dramatically change the face of agriculture worldwide.''

The active ingredient in Messenger is harpin, a naturally occurring protein produced by bacteria commonly found in the environment. When Messenger is applied to a plant, harpin protein binds to the plant's receptors. Upon binding, the Messenger-treated plant initiates a set of complex signaling pathways, causing natural gene expression and activating the plant's natural defense and growth systems.

"All plants have natural and rigorous defense mechanisms that help protect them against disease and insect infestation. These responses have been occurring to some degree in all plants for eons. Scientists have been searching for agents that can effectively 'switch on' these plant defense mechanisms for years,'' said Dr. Zhongmin Wei, vice president and director of research at EDEN Bioscience. Dr. Wei and his colleagues at Cornell University discovered harpin protein. EDEN has further studied harpin protein and developed the commercial application of Messenger at its cutting-edge research and production facility in Bothell.

"Messenger activates these insect and disease defense pathways before the plant is under attack,'' Dr. Wei added. "Once activated, a plant is better able to naturally protect itself against a broad spectrum of bacteria, viruses and fungi, plus repel, suppress or tolerate certain insects, mites and nematodes. In addition, these plant pathways enhance plant vigor and stress tolerance, and increase nutrient uptake and photosynthesis within the plant, generating higher yields and improved food quality.''

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies Messenger as a biochemical pesticide, the product does not directly kill anything. Instead, Messenger simply sends a "message'' to the plant to protect itself. "For the first time ever, growers will have a product, classified as a biochemical pesticide, that protects plants against a wide variety of pests on multiple crops, while at the same time, improving quality, yield and overall crop performance. Plus Messenger displays an extraordinarily high level of human and environmental safety,'' Butler said. Messenger has been found to be virtually non-toxic to mammals, birds, honeybees, plants and aquatic species. Because of this negligible toxicity, even Messenger's packaging requires no special treatment -- no triple rinsing or recycling -- and can be disposed of with a grower's normal refuse. It leaves no detectable residue on crops or in water -- even immediately after application -- and is rendered inactive by natural sunlight and microbes. Messenger rapidly degrades in the environment, and studies prove there is no concern of ground or surface water contamination.

An additional environmental benefit is that Messenger is applied at an extremely low use rate. "Only about a teaspoon of active ingredient is applied per acre,'' added Butler. Messenger has been evaluated in more than 500 field trials in the United States, Mexico and China. More than 45 crops have been studied, including cotton, citrus, wheat, rice, tomato, peanut, pepper, rose, strawberry and cucumber. "We are aware of no other product or compound currently being marketed, under development or described in scientific literature that can provide such a broad-based impact on so many crops,'' commented Butler.

Because Messenger does not disrupt the natural or introduced populations of beneficial predators and parasites, Messenger also is an ideal product for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. "Messenger's unique mode of action makes it unlikely that pest resistance will develop, so growers can use Messenger throughout the growing season as the primary control agent,'' Butler said.

"The effectiveness of Messenger technology on all plant systems is virtually limitless. We continue to target agricultural crops where Messenger can be a viable alternative to traditional crop protection practices,'' Butler added. "We expect this technology to be available throughout the agricultural and consumer marketplace in the coming years.''

EDEN Bioscience is in the business of helping growers produce crops more safely and more efficiently. The breakthrough technologies of EDEN present the world with its first practical opportunity for affordable, high-yield production of food, fiber, ornamental plants and turf in ways that are natural and protective of humans, wildlife, and soil and water resources. EDEN, based in Bothell, Wash, was founded in 1994, and has more than 70 employees involved in research, sales and marketing throughout North America.