Chicago, Illinois
December 7, 2000

As the research leader responsible for new genetics that have increased cotton farmers' profits $40 million annually since 1996, Dr. Johnie N. Jenkins has been named winner of the Verdant Partners' Crop Genetics Award for the year 2000. The announcement was made at the American Seed Trade Association Mid-winter Chicago meeting. A $10,000 agricultural scholarship in Dr. Jenkins' name has been donated by Verdant to the Crops, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Arkansas. 

At the USDA, ARS - Crop Science lab at the Mississippi State, MS, Dr. Jenkins developed and
released cotton germplasm with genetic traits providing plants with resistance to boll weevil,
Heliothis, plant bug, root-knot nematodes and fusarium wilt. He has worked cooperatively with
major cottonseed companies to test performance and efficacy of transgenic plants. Dr. Jenkins
protocols have become industry and regulatory standards. 

The Verdant judges who nominated Dr. Jenkins include Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, the Nobel
Laureate of the Green Revolution; Dr. Ray A. Goldberg, Moffett Professor of Agriculture &
Business, Emeritus, Harvard Business School; Dr. Owen J. Newlin, retired Senior Vice President
and Director, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. 

Verdant Partners is an international crop genetics investment banking and consulting group with
offices in California, Illinois and Wisconsin. 

Company news release
N3179