Agrinomics Reaches Key Milestones, Including Discovery of Several Novel Genes and Filing of Five Patent Applications.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2000

Today, Agrinomics LLC announced highlights of a recent presentation in San Diego, California at the Second Annual Agricultural Genomics conference sponsored by the International Institute for Research.

The conference assembled a panel of internationally recognized experts in agricultural genomics to provide updates on developments in plant biotechnology over the past year.

Dr. Ry Wagner, Agrinomics' chief scientific officer presented current developments in the company's functional genomics program including the following highlights:

-- The company has substantially upgraded research facilities in

Portland and Woodburn, Oregon and in Research Triangle Park,

North Carolina.

-- The company has also formed its first strategic alliance with

Genopsis, a joint venture between Vilmorin Clause & Cie of

France and Biotech M.A.H. Plant Genomic Fund of Israel. The

joint venture will sponsor a five-year $7.5 million research

program to discover genes that confer desirable traits in

certain vegetables for use by Vilmorin and by Hazera Quality

Seeds, Ltd., two of the world's leading vegetable seed

companies

-- Over 100,000 transgenic lines of Arabidopsis plants have been

generated and screened using the company's proprietary

activation-tagging process, called ACTTAG(TM). Agrinomics

researchers have discovered a number of novel genes exhibiting

either gain-of-function or loss-of-function. These discoveries

are expected to result in the further development of plants

with superior traits.

-- The existing library is being screened for morphological

traits; fungal, insect and bacterial resistance; and oil

modification.

-- Five US patent applications have been filed covering the

proprietary ACTTAG process, improvements to the process and

certain novel genes.

"In a very short period of ten months, we have taken the ACTTAG technology from the research laboratory level to a full scale industrial process supported by a strong bioinformatics platform," said Adolph J. Ferro, chief executive officer. Ferro noted that Agrinomics plans to form a series of third party collaborations, similar to the one with Genopsis, to sponsor specific research in a variety of crops. He said that discussions are underway with several prospective sponsors.

Agrinomics conducts research, development and commercialization programs in the field of agricultural functional genomics. The company is a joint venture between Aventis CropScience (NYSE:AVE) and Agritope Inc. (Nasdaq:AGTO) formed in July 1999 to identify, develop and commercialize novel genes expected to be discovered under a gene discovery program called the ACTTAG(TM) Gene Discovery Program. ACTTAG utilizes activation tagging, a technique that enables researchers to rapidly discover genes and the traits they confer.

Agritope is an Oregon-based agricultural functional genomics and biotechnology company that develops improved plant products and provides technology to the agricultural industry. Its fruit and vegetable division specializes in the development of improved fruit, vegetable and flower varieties. Vinifera, Inc., its majority owned subsidiary, offers superior grapevine plants to the premium wine industry. On May 11, 2000, Agritope announced revenues for the first half of fiscal 2000 rose 160% to $1.7 million.

Aventis CropScience is a major crop protection and crop production company also involved in top-ranking environmental and public health activities. Committed to developing sustainable agriculture worldwide, Aventis CropScience focuses on researching, developing and marketing innovative solutions that meet the needs of today's farming -- increased yields, improved crop and food quality -- while constantly striving to meet the needs of the environment. With 1999 pro-forma sales of 4,061 million euro, Aventis CropScience devotes over 10% of its turnover to the research and development of new chemicals, biotechnology and plant varieties. It employs about 16,000 people in more than 120 countries worldwide. Aventis CropScience is part of the agricultural sector of Aventis, a world leader in Life Sciences. For more information on Aventis visit the web site http://www.aventis.com