Bothwell, Washington
February 16,  2001

Net Loss Meets First Call Consensus Estimates
EDEN Hires Industry Veteran to Head European Expansion

EDEN Bioscience(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:EDEN), which develops, manufactures and markets innovative, natural products for protecting plants and improving crop production, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2000. 

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2000 was $988 thousand, bringing total revenue for the full year 2000 to $2.0 million. All revenue was derived solely from sales of Messenger(R), which uses a fundamentally new, patented technology that has demonstrated an ability to improve plant protection and crop production on a wide array of crops grown worldwide. The company reported revenue of $37 thousand in the fourth quarter of 1999 and $115 thousand for the full year 1999, all of which was derived from consulting services. 

"We passed a number of significant milestones in 2000," commented Jerry Butler, president and CEO. "During the last year, we received EPA approval of Messenger for use in over 65 different crops or crop groups, and commenced initial production, marketing and distribution of the product, which resulted in our first sales. Following the successful completion of our initial public offering, we increased our sales force, prepared to expand our business globally, and completed the upgrade of our manufacturing facility. Further, we completed additional field trials of Messenger in numerous crops worldwide." 

Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2000 was $2.9 million or $0.12 per pro forma weighted average common share, compared to a net loss of $2.6 million or $0.18 per pro forma weighted average common share in the fourth quarter of 1999. Net loss for the year was $13.4 million or $0.72 per pro forma weighted average common share, before a one-time charge in the third quarter 2000 of $2.3 million or $0.13 per pro forma weighted average share for a commitment fee paid, and the fair value of warrants issued, in connection with the establishment of credit facilities. This compares to a net loss of $9.4 million or $0.67 per pro forma weighted average common share for the year 1999. Including the one-time charge, net loss for the year 2000 was $15.7 million or $0.85 per pro forma weighted average common share. Pro forma per-share computations reflect the retroactive conversion of all EDEN convertible preferred stock into common stock, which took place on September 26, 2000. 

Butler added, "We are pleased to welcome Jean Paul Devey to the EDEN management team, as
Business Unit Manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. With his extensive international
background in the agrochemical industry, Devey will oversee our European expansion efforts. Jean Paul brings more than 15 years of experience in product management for global companies in the agribusiness and specialty chemicals industries." Prior to joining EDEN Bioscience, Devey served as Head of Marketing for the Western Europe Region for Novartis Crop Protection, the agribusiness division of Novartis AG, which recently merged with AstraZeneca's agrochemicals business to form Syngenta. 

EDEN Bioscience is a plant technology company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative natural products for agriculture. EDEN believes its technology and initial product, Messenger, allows it to offer superior alternatives to existing plant protection and crop yield enhancement products in terms of both performance and safety, and importantly, to avoid the substantial public resistance to many chemical pesticides and genetically modified plants. Messenger, which received EPA approval for full commercial use in April 2000, is based on naturally occurring proteins called "harpins," which trigger natural plant defense systems to protect against disease and pests, and plant growth systems, improving crop yield and quality. The company completed its initial public offering on October 2, 2000. EDEN Bioscience's headquarters is located at 11816 North Creek Parkway N., Bothell, WA 98011, 425/806-7300; www.edenbio.com.  

Company news release
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