Arysta LifeScience Receives U.S. Registration for MIDAS(R); Paves Way to Address Global Phase out of Methyl Bromide



    Arysta LifeScience today announced that the U.S. Environmental
    Protection Agency (EPA) has granted commercial registration for one
    year to MIDAS(R), a broad-spectrum soil fumigant that effectively
    controls a broad range of soil-borne diseases, nematodes, weed seeds
    and insects that threaten high-value crops such as ornamentals,
    strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, stone fruit, nuts and vines, as well
    as turf. MIDAS(R) will be widely available through select fumigant
    distributors by October 2007.

    MIDAS(R) was developed to help growers with the phase out of
    methyl bromide under the Montreal Protocol. Worldwide, about 72,000
    tons of methyl bromide are used each year according to U.S. EPA data.
    North America uses about 27,000 tons annually, 85 percent of which is
    used for soil fumigation. Growers around the world have long relied on
    methyl bromide as their choice fumigant and the phase out has left
    growers with few effective broad-spectrum choices.

    "MIDAS(R) is the fumigant answer for which many growers have been
    looking," said Mike Allan, Global Product Manager for MIDAS(R).
    "MIDAS(R) is the right foundation for success for growers because it
    provides broad-spectrum control of target pests and diseases and uses
    conventional application techniques and equipment. MIDAS(R) has been
    proven to be as effective as methyl bromide at lower application
    rates."

    MIDAS(R) is considered a foundation crop protection product
    because it is applied pre-plant to bare soil. MIDAS(R) provides
    broad-spectrum crop protection which can reduce the overall chemical
    need and helps establish a strong healthy crop that delivers high
    yields. In trials in the Southeast U.S., half of the growers who
    participated saw an increase in yield over their methyl
    bromide-treated acreage. The remaining growers saw results similar to
    those achieved with methyl bromide.

    "This registration, after many years of hard work on the part of
    the Arysta team, is further evidence of our company's dedication to
    our grower partners," said Bill Lewis, CEO of Arysta LifeScience North
    America Corporation. "Throughout the regulatory process, we have
    remained committed to our principles of partnership with the
    agriculture community."

    MIDAS(R) has been in use under an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) in
    Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
    and Virginia since 2006. The EPA added test acreage in California in
    2007. The company used these trials to evaluate efficacy, market
    yields and economic comparisons across several crops. Half of the
    growers who participated saw, on average, a 19 percent yield increase
    compared to methyl bromide on side-by-side trials on commercial
    acreage. The remaining growers saw results similar to those achieved
    with methyl bromide. Crops raised under the EUP are approved for sale
    to the market.

    MIDAS(R) is the first new soil fumigant to be registered by the
    EPA in 20 years. A comprehensive data package supports the product
    label. Arysta is committed to ensuring proper handling and application
    of MIDAS(R) through the Arysta Certified Applicator Training Program.
    In an effort to further ensure protection of workers and bystanders,
    the EPA has implemented buffer zones that are scalable based upon
    fumigant rate and number of acres applied. This will allow growers
    more control over their fumigant use. MIDAS(R) is approved for use on
    strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, ornamentals, stone fruits, nut crops,
    vine crops (including table and wine grapes), turf and nursery crops.

    Arysta continues to build international support for MIDAS(R) with
    trials in many countries including Japan, Australia, New Zealand,
    Turkey, Morocco, South Africa, Israel, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil,
    Mexico and Chile.

    The registration is further evidence of Arysta LifeScience's
    presence in the high-value fruit and vegetable crop market, which
    represents approximately US$8 billion in sales in 2006. MIDAS(R) is a
    complement to the company's existing crop protection products that are
    used on crops ranging from corn and soybeans to fruits, nut trees and
    nursery crops.

    Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Arysta LifeScience is the world's
    largest privately held crop protection and life science company with
    2006 revenues of Yen 124.1 billion (US$1 billion). An entrepreneurial
    provider of crop protection and life science products in more than 125
    countries worldwide, Arysta LifeScience specializes in the marketing
    and distribution of respected crop protection brands and life science
    products in harmony with the needs of global producers. More
    information on the company is available at: www.arystalifescience.com