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Cibus LLC, the U.S. plant breeding technology company and The National Grain
Sorghum Producers Foundation (NGSPF), which is affiliated with the National
Sorghum Producers, announced a partnership with Valent U.S.A. Corporation, a
leading provider of innovative crop protection products, to develop non-GMO
herbicide tolerant grain sorghum, February, 2007.

Valent brings its expertise in herbicide development and management to an
alliance between Cibus and NGSPF. The collaboration pioneers a new standard
for providing valuable traits to farmers while avoiding the unknown and
potentially unintended consequences associated with GMO crops. Cibus'
proprietary gene conversion technology, known as the Rapid Trait Development
System (RTDS(TM)), will be used to develop this new trait in grain sorghum,
providing high tolerance levels to Valent's leading postemergence grass
herbicide brand, Select Max(R) Herbicide with Inside Technology(TM). This
will significantly enhance the productivity and profitability of sorghum
farming operations.

"With both Valent and Cibus' missions to provide innovative and sustainable
technologies to the agribusiness community, this collaboration will benefit
growers and be a natural fit for us," says Trevor Thorley, President/COO,
Valent U.S.A. Corporation. "Cibus' proven technology opens new doors for all
parties, and will help growers more easily produce safe and abundant food.
Given the global reach of Valent's parent company, Sumitomo Chemical
Company, Ltd., a world leader in the discovery of crop protection and plant
enhancement products, we look forward to exploring opportunities with Cibus
for other crops around the world."

"Sorghum producers have needed some new grass control options for quite some
time," said NGSPF President Bruce Maunder. "Our partnership with Cibus and
now Valent will allow for much-needed technology development in our crop.
Once it makes its way into producer fields, it should help increase both
yields and profitability for sorghum producers."

"This is an exciting project," said NSP CEO Tim Lust. "With new grass
control options, producers will begin considering planting sorghum in fields
where that may not be an option now. This is a clear win for sorghum
producers."

NGSPF plans to use revenues derived from this partnership to reinvest in
sorghum research and development as part of a long-term program for sorghum
improvement. And since RTDS can develop non-GMO traits faster and at lower
cost than transgenic alternatives, this will save farmers an estimated $25
million per crop.

The RTDS(TM) process works through the cell's natural process of gene
repair. Every time a cell copies DNA, it makes "scrivener" errors or
spelling mistakes. These variations happen all the time, which is how
natural variation occurs. Cibus' technology harnesses the cell's own natural
DNA repair machinery to correct such spelling mistakes, thus directing DNA
repair enzymes to correct and repair the targeted gene in a specific way in
order to produce a desired trait. The process, in its precision, is similar
to altering a single letter in a word contained within a large book. Nothing
in the genome, other than the changes directed by the process, is altered by
this approach.

"RTDS promises a revolution in genetics?a limitless range of value added new
products that are acceptable to environmentally-conscious consumers and
governments, and help farmers solve their toughest pest management
problems," says Dr. Keith Walker, President of Cibus. "RTDS technology can
be used to create non-GMO plants tolerant to most herbicide chemistries
currently marketed to farmers, such as a Select Max(R) tolerant grain
sorghum. But the opportunities also include healthier oils and nutraceutical
oils in crops such as canola and soybeans plus many other valuable traits."

"A recent Kansas State University survey of more than 600 sorghum producers
from across the United States identified grassy weed control for grain
sorghum as their No. 1 research priority. Select Max(R) provides fast and
complete control of emerged annual and perennial grassy weeds in over 100
crops, including soybean, sunflower, cotton, and sugar beets," says Joseph
Short, Product Manager for Valent. "Sorghum producers will see increased
convenience, yield and profits when they can selectively control grasses
with an over-the-top application of Select Max(R)."

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