DuPont Announces New Biotechnology Advisory Panel Member

WILMINGTON, Del.,  July 28, 2005  —  DuPont today announced the addition of Mr. Chebet Maikut to its external Biotechnology Advisory Panel. Mr. Maikut is the president of the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), one of the largest farmer organizations in Uganda. He joins the ranks of seven other distinguished panel members who bring important and diverse viewpoints to the broad area of biotechnology and its application in agriculture, food and bio-based materials.

"Chebet Maikut's knowledge of African agriculture will provide valuable insight into biotechnology policy and acceptance from the perspective of a developing country and market," said DuPont Chairman and CEO Charles O. Holliday, Jr. "He brings a strong voice that represents both African opinions on biotechnology as well as prospective customer segments in this emerging market."

As a farmer in the Kapchorwa District, Uganda, Maikut is no stranger to the challenges facing African growers. He has dedicated his career to empowering others to create a better quality of life through the development of a sustainable African agricultural industry. In addition to his role at the UNFFE, Maikut holds several other leadership positions, including vice president, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) and member of the Interim Panel of Eminent Experts to the Global Crop Diversity Trust. He is also an active participant of the CGIAR Sub-Saharan Challenge Program.

Formerly, Maikut was chairman of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers' Committee on Science and Technology; a District Councilor, Constituent Assembly (CAD) and a member of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly of Uganda representing Kween in the Kapchorwa District. Before then, he worked with the Republic of Uganda Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

Established in 2000, the DuPont external Biotechnology Advisory Panel is an independent panel charged with providing counsel to guide DuPont's actions, help create positions on important issues, as well as challenge the organization in the development, testing and commercialization of new products based on biotechnology.

In addition to Maikut, the other panel members include:

• Dr. Marcelo Carvalho de Andrade, an accomplished advocate of sustainable community development and environmental preservation and restoration. He is the founding chairman of Pro-Natura, the first international, nongovernmental organization headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere to specialize in sustainable development.
• Professor Chunming Chen, founding president of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and currently senior advisor and professor of nutrition. Professor Chen is an internationally recognized expert in nutrition.
• Dr. Pablo Eyzaguirre, senior scientist for anthropology and socio-economics in the Genetic Resources Science and Technology group of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) based in Rome. Dr. Eyzaguirre is a specialist in social and ecological anthropology, tropical farming systems, and agrarian institutions.
• Father Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D., research associate professor in the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Father FitzGerald is internationally known and sought after for his expertise in human genetic engineering, cloning and stem cell research.
• Carol Tucker Foreman, well-known and respected consumer advocate and a distinguished fellow and director of the Consumer Federation of America's Food Policy Institute. Foreman has had a major impact on diet and health in the United States over the last 25 years.
• Dr. V. Prakash, director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysore, India. He is internationally known for his work in sustainable food and nutrition security. As a scientist in the area of biotechnology, Dr. Prakash has won a large number of awards and is a member of several international committees.
• Dr. Sven Thormahlen, vice president of the Research and Development Organization of the Danone Group, a world leading company in the field of dairy products, biscuits and mineral water. Thormahlen's experience covers product research, product development, clinical studies and quality assurance.

The work of the advisory panel is facilitated by the Keystone Center, a non-profit organization based in Keystone, Colo., which includes a regular audit of DuPont's progress in the biotechnology arena. This public report is available at http://www2.dupont.com/Biotechnology/en_US/difference/advisory.html.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

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07/28/05