The News

CropDesign appoints new CEO

23/12/2004

GENT, BELGIUM, December 23, 2004 – CropDesign N.V. is pleased to announce that Dr. Johan Cardoen, formerly Vice-President Business Development, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company, replacing Karl-Peter Schlichting.

Johan Cardoen has been with CropDesign since 1999 and has spent over 16 years of his career in the Agricultural Biotechnology business with leading companies such as Plant Genetic Systems, Hoechst Schering AgrEvo GmbH and Aventis CropScience, holding various management positions in IP, Technology Acquisition and Business Development.

Dr. Pol Bamelis, Chairman of CropDesign says: “I would like to thank Dr. Karl-Peter Schlichting, previous CEO of CropDesign, for his commitment and dedication. Karl-Peter has been instrumental in steering the Company through a very successful financing round, which has now put the Company on a much stronger financial and strategic footing. CropDesign has made significant progress over the last year, and it has a growing and exciting pipeline of yield-enhancement traits, which have now also been validated in field trials. With the recent capital increase, together with substantial revenues generated from various deals, the Company is very well positioned to pursue the best possible route towards product development. Johan has a broad industry network and his deal-making expertise will prove to be a key asset for the company in the near future.”

CropDesign uses its rice TraitMill applied genomics platform to discover traits for the improvement of corn, rice and other cereal crops in both in-house and partnered programs. The company’s proprietary lead and field-validated lead pipeline is focused on enhancing yield and improving tolerance to drought and nutrient stress.

For further information, please contact: Antonella Masariè CropDesign N.V. Tel: +32 9 242 91 61 Fax: +32 9 241 50 89 E-mail: antonella.masarie@cropdesign.com