EDEN Bioscience Announces Cost Reductions.

Business Editors

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2002

EDEN Bioscience(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:EDEN), which develops, manufactures and markets innovative, natural protein-based products for improving crop production and protecting plants, today announced the reduction of 20 full-time positions in the U.S. and Europe, bringing total post-reduction headcount to 66 full-time employees.

In connection with this reduction, EDEN Bioscience expects to take a severance charge of up to approximately $250,000 in the second quarter of 2002.

"U.S. staff reductions are across most areas of the company except sales," said Brad Powell, CFO and interim president. "In Europe, we are implementing a plan that will continue our regulatory programs and work with key accounts, but will significantly reduce our operating expenses. I am encouraged by the increasing usage of Messenger, and I believe that these changes to our cost structure allow us additional time to further increase grower adoption in this challenging agricultural economy."

ABOUT EDEN BIOSCIENCE

EDEN Bioscience is a plant technology company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative, natural protein-based products for agriculture. EDEN believes its technology and initial product, Messenger, provide growers with a new tool to improve crop production and plant protection. Messenger, which received unconditional EPA approval for full commercial use in April 2002, is based on naturally occurring proteins called "harpins," which activate natural plant defense systems to protect against disease and pests, and simultaneously activate plant growth systems, improving crop yield and quality. It has been tested in over 1,000 field trials in many countries and on more than 40 crops including: citrus, cotton, cucumber, peppers, strawberries, tobacco, tomatoes, grapes and corn. EDEN Bioscience's headquarters are at 3830 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, WA 98021, 425-806-7300; www.edenbio.com.

(c) 2002 EDEN Bioscience Corporation. Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using this product. Messenger(R), EDEN(R), and EDEN Bioscience(R) are registered trademarks of EDEN Bioscience Corp. Messenger is not currently registered for sale or use in Colorado. In California, Messenger is labeled for disease management in strawberries, grapes, and fruiting vegetables only.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, among which includes statements regarding estimates of reduction in expenses, continuance of European regulatory programs and work with key accounts, increasing usage of Messenger, estimates of severence expenses and Messenger's benefits to agriculture. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," the negative of these terms or other terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect EDEN's actual results include, among others, economic conditions in agriculture; inability to transition from a company with a research focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities; dependence on a single product to produce projected revenue; unsuccessful development and commercialization of our single product; inability to produce a high quality product as manufacturing activity is increased; history of losses; unsuccessful research in specific target crops; unfavorable weather conditions; and inability to develop adequate sales and marketing capabilities. More information about these and other factors that potentially could affect EDEN's financial results is included in EDEN's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in its other public filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward-looking statements that speak only as to the date of this release. EDEN undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.