Origin Agritech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SEED) ("the Company" or "Origin") an agricultural biotechnology trait and corn seed provider, today announced that Mr. William S. Niebur, who served the Company since April of 2016, resigned from his positions of Chief Executive Officer and director as of the end of business on November 30, 2017, to pursue new opportunities. Dr. Niebur will continue to assist the Company as a strategic consultant during a transition period. The Company thanks Dr. Niebur for his significant contributions during his tenure with the Company and will soon announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.

The Company, while continuing to seek seed trait and germplasm commercial opportunities in the United States, will be suspending its Iowa representative office and will operate its United States activities from its headquarters in Beijing, Peoples Republic of China.