MARKETING NEWS.

Tomen Corp. and Nichimen Corp. will spin off their life science businesses and merge them into a new independent company headquartered in Tokyo. The yet-to-be-named entity and its affiliate companies will employ more than 1,500 people worldwide. The new company will focus on agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicines and biotechnology businesses. Tomen has a strong presence in Japan and the Americas, while Nichimen's strength lies in the Eastern Hemisphere (Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa).

Aventis CropScience, Lyon, France, has reached agreements for the divestiture of three crop protection product businesses to several third parties. These divestments are part of a portfolio streamlining program to simplify Aventis' product portfolio. The products to be divested are bifenox, a range of herbicides for cereals; chlormephos, a range of insecticides; and dodine (doguadine), a fungicide for use in fruit trees.

Aventis and BASF have signed an agreement concerning Aventis' participation in the BASF Harvest Partners preferred customer program. The program, launched in 1993, is a loyalty program that rewards eligible, participating Harvest Partners program members for purchasing selected products and services from participating member companies. In 2001, BASF, Aventis and Syngenta will participate in the program; however, each company will have separate promotions for Harvest Partners members.

CNH Global, Racine, Wis., has announced that its previously announced agreement to sell the company's tractor manufacturing plant in Doncaster, England, to Landini, S.p.A., has been approved by the European Commission. This action completes the regulatory divestiture requirements by the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice as a condition of government approval for the business merger between Case Corp. and New Holland, N.V.

Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur, Ill., and biotech firm Lifeline Technologies, Chesterfield, Mo., have announced a licensing agreement for phytosterol technology. The proprietary technology has applications for expanded uses of phytosterols and phytostanols in foods and beverages. Phytosterols are natural plant extracts, which are currently used primarily in fat-based retail food products such as margarines and salad dressings. Studies have shown that phytosterols reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.

Garst Seed Co., Slater, Iowa, has completed its hybrid testing for possible StarLink Bt technology contamination in its 2001 seed inventory. The testing includes all corn hybrids sold under the Garst, AgriPro, Gutwein/ Garst and PSA/Garst brand names. Garst initiated its hybrid testing in November 2000 with the intent to test its seed inventory for the 2001 crop year. With more than 140 hybrids to test, the testing process has been extensive.

Steve Klein, director of marketing for Garst, states that "a very limited number" of seed lots were confirmed positive for StarLink contamination, but those lots will not be available for sale.