As a result of this transaction, Verenium will receive license fees, including future royalties, for a commercial enzyme candidate licensed to a third party.

In addition, Verenium obtained microbial and non-plant rights to several late-stage enzyme development candidates, including:

    --  Alpha amylases and glucoamylases for starch processing in biofuels
        production;
    --  Xylanases and beta-glucanases for use in the animal feed industry; and

    --  Thermostable phytases also for use in the animal feed industry. This
        class of enzymes is used commercially to release inorganic phosphate
        from plant material enhancing its nutritive value and reducing
        environmental phosphorus pollution.

The animal feed industry is the second largest market for enzymes, with an estimated 7% rate of underlying growth per year.

About Verenium

Verenium Corporation is a leader in the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, an environmentally-friendly and renewable transportation fuel, as well as high-performance specialty enzymes for applications within the biofuels, industrial, and animal health markets. The Company possesses integrated, end-to-end capabilities and cutting-edge technology in pre-treatment, novel enzyme development, fermentation and project development for next-generation biofuels. Through Vercipia, a 50-50 joint venture with BP, the Company is moving rapidly to commercialize cellulosic technology for the production of ethanol from a wide array of non-food feedstocks, including dedicated energy crops, agricultural waste, and wood products. In addition to the vast potential for biofuels, a multitude of large-scale industrial opportunities exist for the Company for products derived from the production of low-cost, biomass-derived sugars.

Verenium's Specialty Enzyme business harnesses the power of enzymes to create a broad range of specialty products to meet high-value commercial needs. Verenium's world class R&D organization is renowned for its capabilities in the rapid screening, identification, and expression of enzymes-proteins that act as the catalysts of biochemical reactions. For more information on Verenium, visit http://www.verenium.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" and involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. These include, but are not limited to, statements related to the potential value and utility of the rights to biomolecules obtained through the agreement with Syngenta, potential payments Verenium may receive under license agreements assigned to it by Syngenta, and the estimated growth in the market for animal feed enzymes, as well as the Company's operations, capabilities, commercialization activities, target markets, cellulosic ethanol facilities, target markets and future financial performance, results and objectives, all of which are prospective. Such statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to the differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated with Verenium's technologies, risks associated with the costs, labor requirements and labor availability associated with Verenium's demonstration plant, risks associated with Verenium's ability to obtain additional capital to support its planned operations and financial obligations, risks associated with Verenium's dependence on patents and proprietary rights, risks associated with Verenium's protection and enforcement of its patents and proprietary rights, technological, regulatory, competitive and other risks related to development, production, and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels and the commercial prospects of those industries, Verenium's dependence on existing collaboration, manufacturing, and/or license agreements, and its ability to achieve milestones under existing and future collaboration agreements, the ability of Verenium and its partners to commercialize its technologies and products (including by obtaining any required regulatory approvals) using Verenium's technologies and timing for launching any commercial products and projects, the ability of Verenium and its collaborators to market and sell any products that it or they commercialize, the development or availability of competitive products or technologies, the future ability of Verenium to enter into and/or maintain collaboration and joint venture agreements and licenses, changes in the U.S. or global energy markets and laws and regulations applicable to them, and risks and other uncertainties more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and any updates contained in its subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contacts:

    Kelly Lindenboom                 Sarah Carmody
    Vice President,                  Sr. Corporate Communications Associate
    Corporate Communications         617-674-5357
    617-674-5335                     sarah.carmody@verenium.com
    kelly.lindenboom@verenium.com

SOURCE Verenium Corporation

http://www.verenium.com

Crop Protection sales by product line saw an increase in Fungicides and Insecticides led by Latin America and Asia Pacific. Sales of Selective Herbicides were lower primarily due to a product timing issue in France; Non-selective Herbicide performance reflected significantly lower glyphosate prices. Seed Care sales continued their rapid growth in Asia Pacific but were lower in other regions. Professional Products have been affected this year by the economic environment.

Combined sales of new products reached $274 million in the first nine months, an increase of 30 percent*, driven by DURIVO((R)), REVUS((R)) and AXIAL((R)).

Seeds sales increased by 3 percent* in the quarter. For Corn & Soybean volumes in Latin America showed good growth driven by corn in Argentina and soybean in Brazil; in NAFTA returns of soybean were higher following early season acreage uncertainty. Diverse Field Crops and Vegetables grew strongly in all regions, with Vegetables continuing their rapid expansion in Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific, notably China. Flowers growth reflected the consolidation of acquisitions.

For the full year, Syngenta is targeting earnings per share** close to the record level achieved in 2008.

Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) is one of the world's leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com.

* At constant exchange rates.

** Fully diluted, excluding restructuring and impairment.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore.

Unaudited Nine Months Product Line and Regional Sales

                                9 months 2009   9 months 2008   Actual  CER(1)
    Syngenta                               $m              $m        %       %
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Crop Protection                   6609            7429     - 11     - 2
       Seeds                             2082            2156      - 3      +6
       Business Development                 7              22     - 69    - 69
       Inter-segment elimination(2)       (43)            (35)       -       -
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Third Party Sales                 8655            9572      -10       -
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Crop Protection
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Product line
       Selective Herbicides              1887            2063      - 8      +2
       Non-selective Herbicides           961            1101     - 13     - 5
       Fungicides                        1810            2103     - 14     - 4
       Insecticides                       995            1089      - 9       -
       Seed Care                          578             622      - 7      +1
       Professional Products              317             387     - 18    - 15
       Others                              61              64      - 5       -
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total                            6609            7429     - 11     - 2
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Regional
       Europe, Africa and Middle East    2212            2813     - 21     - 6
       NAFTA                             2286            2355      - 3      +3
       Latin America                     1065            1213     - 12    - 12
       Asia Pacific                      1046            1048        -     +10
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                             6609            7429     - 11     - 2
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Seeds
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Product line
       Corn and Soybean                   969             958       +1      +7
       Diverse Field Crops                374             420     - 11      +9
       Vegetables and Flowers             739             778      - 5      +4
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                             2082            2156      - 3      +6
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Regional
       Europe, Africa and Middle East     818             984     - 17      +1
       NAFTA                              974             872      +12     +13
       Latin America                      156             173     - 10    - 10
       Asia Pacific                       134             127       +6     +21
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                             2082            2156      - 3      +6
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (1) Growth at constant exchange rates.
    (2) Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.

Unaudited Third Quarter Product Line and Regional Sales

                               3rd             3rd
                             Quarter 2009    Quarter 2008     Actual    CER(1)
    Syngenta                           $m              $m          %         %
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Crop Protection               1609            1875       - 14      - 10
       Seeds                          406             417        - 3        +3
       Business Development             2               2       - 32      - 31
       Inter-segment elimination(2)   (17)            (17)         -         -
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Third Party Sales             2000            2277       - 12       - 8
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Crop Protection
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Product line
       Selective Herbicides           272             384       - 29      - 25
       Non-selective Herbicides       270             362       - 25      - 21
       Fungicides                     454             454          -        +5
       Insecticides                   322             310         +4        +9
       Seed Care                      186             234       - 20      - 14
       Professional Products           92              98        - 7       - 7
       Others                          13              33       - 59      - 64
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                         1609            1875       - 14      - 10
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Regional
       Europe, Africa and Middle
        East                          402             563       - 29      - 19
       NAFTA                          404             505       - 20      - 18
       Latin America                  515             515          -         -
       Asia Pacific                   288             292        - 1        +4
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                         1609            1875       - 14      - 10
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Seeds
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Product line
       Corn and Soybean               126             144       - 13      - 13
       Diverse Field Crops             70              67         +6       +20
       Vegetables and Flowers         210             206         +2        +8
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                          406             417        - 3        +3
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Regional
       Europe, Africa and Middle
        East                          159            173        - 8         +4
       NAFTA                           94             99        - 6        - 5
       Latin America                  115            107         +7         +7
       Asia Pacific                    38             38         +1         +9
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                          406            417        - 3         +3
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (1) Growth at constant exchange rates.
    (2) Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.

    Syngenta International AG

    Media Office
    CH-4002 Basel
    Switzerland
    Tel:  +41 61 323 23 23
    Fax: +41 61 323 24 24

    www.syngenta.com

    Media contacts:

    Medard Schoenmaeckers
    Switzerland  +41 61 323 2323

    Analyst/Investor contacts:

    Jennifer Gough
    Switzerland  +41 61 323 5059
    USA             +1 202 737 6521

    John Hudson
    Switzerland  +41 61 323 6793
    USA             +1 202 737 6520

SOURCE Syngenta

http://www.syngenta.com

Sandro Aruffo, Head of Research and Development at Syngenta, added: "This investment follows a research collaboration with Metabolon which has existed for some years. We believe Metabolon's unique metabolomics platform will be an increasingly important technology for the development of innovative new products in the agriculture industry."

Metabolomics provides mechanistic insight and biochemical markers for complex biological processes. This technology aims to accelerate the development of plants with innovative new native and genetically modified traits.

Syngenta Ventures will take a seat on the Board of Metabolon. The equity investment was made in the Series C financing of Metabolon which raised in total $12.3 million from a number of investors, including Syngenta Ventures. Financial details of the equity investment were not disclosed.

About Syngenta

Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) is one of the world's leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com.

About Metabolon

Metabolon is a diagnostics and services company offering the industry's leading biochemical profiling platform. Metabolon's patented platform provides a global analysis of complex biological samples for the discovery of markers. This metabolomics-driven approach enables the identification of biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of diagnostics and provides insight into complex biochemical processes such as drug action, toxicology and bioprocess optimization. For more information about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore.

    Media contacts:

    Medard Schoenmaeckers
    Switzerland       +41 61 323 2323

    Paul Minehart
    USA               +1 202 737 8913

    Analyst/Investor contacts:

    Jennifer Gough
    Switzerland       +41 61 323 5059
    USA               +1 202 737 6521

    John Hudson
    Switzerland       +41 61 323 6793
    USA               +1 202 737 6520

SOURCE Syngenta

http://www.syngenta.com