1) RAI Names New Manager

2) Denise Godfrey Selected For CALP Program

3) Syngenta Names New Fafard President

4) ANLA's Regelbrugge Named To Immigration Forum

5) Dosatron Names New CEO

6) Magnus Nilsson Turns 100 In '06

7) Griffin Named Distributor Of PBH Growing Material
8) Premier Horticulture Builds State-Of-The-Art Plant In Manitoba
9) Reknowned Dutch Plant Breeder Kees Sahin Passes Away

 RAI Names New Manager

 For North America

Fort Myers, Fla., December 15, 2006 -- Maarten Leune, Managing Director of Royalty Administration International announced that Sam Rizzi has been hired as Manager of Royalty Administration International, North America. Sam will join RAI® on January 2, 2007 and brings to the company 28 years of diverse nursery experience in marketing, production and finance. He graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting/Finance and holds certification as a Public Accountant. He previously worked for Color Spot Nurseries (Fallbrook, CA), Hines Horticulture (Miami, FL) and as a consultant in the horticulture industry. Sam and his wife Barbara will be relocating from Pennsylvania to the Fort Myers, Fla. home office for RAI North America.

Over the next few months Sam will work with Jerry Ruskan, current RAI NA Manager, to facilitate an uninterrupted transition in RAI management.  After a long career in teaching, manufacturing and the horticulture industry, the last ten years with RAI, Jerry will retire.

Royalty Administration International is the world’s leader in providing comprehensive services to plant breeders in the areas of patent applications, licensing of customers to finish only or propagate protected varieties, monitoring of licensees, royalty collection and disbursement of moneys, and communication of information that is usable by the breeder.  RAI has offices in Holland (head office), South America, South Africa, Japan and North America.  Any agreement with RAI can also include representation worldwide.     

Denise Godfrey of Olive Hill Greenhouses Selected to California Agricultural Leadership Program

Sacramento, December 18, 2006 – Denise Godfrey, a Fallbrook community leader in agriculture, has been selected to participate in the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), one of the premier agricultural leadership opportunities in the United States. Her class, the 37th selected in the program’s history, was recently inaugurated in San Diego.

CALP is an intensive two-year fellowship that focuses on more effective leadership through enlightenment and cultural exposure. It has been in operation since 1969 and has more than 1,000 alumni, including such influential leaders as Secretary of Agriculture A.G. Kawamura, State Senators Mike Machado and Abel Maldonado, U.S. Representatives Devin Nunes and George Radanovich, and former Secretary of State Bill Jones.

“Ag Leadership is a fantastic opportunity for me to learn more about various facets of society and gain a better understanding and appreciation for people’s passions, motivations and concerns,” says Godfrey. “I look forward to applying this knowledge and influencing positive change in my own community.”

Godfrey is the second generation of Olive Hill Greenhouses, a wholesale nursery started by her parents, Tony and Sue Godfrey, in 1973. The nursery has grown to become one of the 100 largest nurseries in the country. Godfrey is responsible for selling their Fallbrook-grown, pollution-fighting tropical foliage -- including bromeliads, anthuriums and orchids -- to customers throughout the western United States.

With the support of her husband, Will McGregor, Godfrey serves as president of the San Diego County Flower and Plant Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the interior plant initiative Plants At Work, and is a leader of the Fallbrook 4H Floriculture Group (an activity she enjoys sharing with her daughter Emma, 2). Godfrey is committed to educational programs promoting the health benefits of flowers and plants and to teaching children the joys of having flowers and plants in their lives.

As a member of Class 37, Godfrey will be exposed to a variety of issues and activities unique to CALP. Those include visits to San Quentin State Prison in San Rafael and intercity youth programs in East Los Angeles, as well as trips across the United States and to developing nations. The participants’ interaction with non-agricultural environments follows CALP’s belief that effective leaders must have a true understanding of the world around them.

For more information about CALP, visit www.agleaders.org or call 916-928-2202.

Syngenta Names New President for Conrad Fafard Inc.

Greensboro, N.C., December 18, 2006—Syngenta Professional Products is pleased to
announce that Keelan Pulliam will become president of Conrad Fafard Inc. effective Jan. 1, 2007. Pulliam will succeed Fafard president Andy Fafard, who will retire Dec. 31, 2006.
In his new role, Pulliam will oversee the continued alignment of Conrad Fafard Inc. and
Syngenta Professional Products, and the ongoing growth and expansion of Fafard throughout North America. Syngenta purchased Conrad Fafard Inc., a leading manufacturer of packaged growing media for professional ornamental growers and consumer retail outlets, in July 2006.

“I am honored to be named president of Conrad Fafard Inc.,” Pulliam said. “The leadership
and vision of Andy Fafard, and the resources and synergies available as a subsidiary of
Syngenta, give Fafard a solid foundation for future expansion, and I look forward to leading Fafard through this exciting period of growth and change.”

Pulliam has worked for Syngenta or its legacy companies for more than 26 years and has held numerous positions, including product manager, district and regional sales manager, national sales director, and team leader for corporate accounts.

For the past five years, Pulliam has led the Lawn & Garden business unit for Syngenta
Professional Products in North America, encompassing the golf, lawn and landscape,
ornamental, and aquatics markets. His successor in that role will be named at a later date.

“Keelan has a wealth of experience in the lawn and garden industry,” said Rob Neill, vice
president of Syngenta Professional Products for North America. “His organizational aptitude and business acumen make him an excellent choice to guide the Fafard company and to achieve synergies with Syngenta.”

Neill further noted, “We also must congratulate Andy Fafard on his retirement, and thank him for the many years of service and leadership that he provided the company that bears his family name. He has led Fafard through significant growth. He will be greatly missed for both his knowledge of the industry and his leadership of the Fafard organization.”

To learn more about Syngenta products and services for the golf, lawn and landscape,
ornamental and aquatic businesses, visit www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com or call 1- 866-SYNGENTA (796-4368).
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through
innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2005 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore.

ANLA Joins Immigration Forum Board of Directors

Washington, D.C. — The American Nursery & Landscape Association’s (ANLA) senior director of government relations, Craig Regelbrugge, has been elected to the board of directors of the National Immigration Forum. The Forum’s mission is to embrace and uphold America’s tradition as a nation of immigrants. The Forum advocates and builds support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and are fair and supportive to newcomers in the United States. 

“Craig’s election to the National Immigration Forum board reflects both his own deep personal commitment to the green industry and its workforce, and also the great strides ANLA has made to establish the association’s credibility and vision on the leading issue of our day,” said Joanne Kostecky, ANLA President and owner of Joanne Kostecky Garden Design, Inc.; a Pennsylvania-based landscape design firm.  Kostecky pointed out that ANLA is a co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, and serves on the steering committee of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition.  These two coalitions are the primary voice of green industry employers in the immigration debate.

 
(Source: Rebecca Blankenship, ANLA, rblankenship@anla.org)

Dosatron Names Chief Executive Officer

Dosatron International, Inc. with corporate offices in Clearwater, Florida has named Michael Palandro as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. Palandro brings years of successful leadership experience in a variety of business disciples in both domestic and overseas operating environments.  He assumed responsibility for this position in October 2006.

Magnus Nilsson Turns 100 In '06
On 29th November 2006 Magnus Nilsson, Perennial Grower from Påarp in Sweden
will be 100 years old. Our warmest congratulations!
We have all heard of Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ which was awarded an Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 2003, the highest accolade of the Royal Horticultural Society for an Echinacea raised from seed. In 1998 it was also named as “Perennial of the Year” in both Sweden and America by two separate independent juries.
In 1985 Jelitto Perennial Seeds received permission to put Magnus Nilsson’s newly bred plant on the market. Since it had not yet been named Klaus Jelitto christened it “Magnus” much to Magnus Nilsons embarrassment.
Magnus Nilson had already immortalised his grandchildren by naming new varieties after them. These new varieties created a sensation amongst passionate gardeners in Sweden. They were often introduced in other countries under different names
though the originals were e.g.:
· Chrysanthemum max. 'Ivonne'
· Heuchera sanguinea 'Rikard'
· Heuchera sanguinea 'Joachim'
· Trollius hybr. 'Kerstin'
· Geum montanum 'Diana'
Bergenia cordifolia 'Vinterglöd' (bred by Magnus Nilsson) attracted international attention. It was introduced to the market by the name of 'Winterglut' by Jelitto. This variety, which is derived from Bergenia cordifolia 'Rotblum', has winter foliage which glows vivid red.
Magnus's clearest memory of his years as an apprentice around 1920 is of the bitter cold in the room he shared with 3 other apprentices. In 1937, before starting work in the perennial nursery belonging to the Alnarp School of Horticulture, he married his fiancé Sigrit. Eventually Magnus Nilsson took over the management of this nursery.
In 1943 he started work for C F Landsberg AB a perennial nursery, which, at that time, was the biggest in Sweden. In 1954 he himself took over the company. His wife Sigrit gave him her fullest support whilst bringing up their 2 sons. Finally, Magnus Nilsson handed over the nursery to one of his sons, Jong Ingvar.
(Source: Klaus R. Jelitto)

PBH Rice Hull Media Amendment Now Available From Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies

Stuttgart, Arkansas, December 13, 2006 -- Riceland Foods, Inc. has named Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies as its exclusive Northeast and Mid-Atlantic distributor of PBH Growing Medium Material, a uniquely processed and sterilized rice hull media amendment.  

Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies is based in Tewksbury, MA, and serves customers from 10 locations in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and New York, as well as through an online catalog at www.griffins.com.

"Our intent was to put PBH into the hands of a supplier with a reputation for outstanding products and service, along with a powerful presence in the eastern U.S.,” PBH Eastern Regional Manager Mark Shepherd said. “With Griffin as our distribution partner, we have definitely met our objective.”

Riceland Foods is a farmer-owned cooperative founded in 1921 to market rice. The organization, headquartered in Stuttgart, AR, now employs 1,800 people and markets rice, soybeans and wheat grown by its 9,000 farmer members.

For more information or to find a Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies location near you, contact the corporate office at 987-851-4346.

www.riceland.com                   

www.griffins.com

Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands

Dutch plant breeder and seedsman Kees Sahin, died on 9 September 2006 after a prolonged illness, aged 62 years. Born in Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia, Zelimir Kornelije Tvrtkovic-Sahin (later on moving to Holland simplified to Kees Sahin), he developed a love of plants from an early age. He set up K. Sahin, Zaden B. V. in Holland in 1982 with his wife Elisabeth, a botanist and, in recent years, the manager of the firm. He loved all plants, and his prodigious encyclopedic knowledge was shared generously with others. Sahin breeding programs covered many genera, creating popular flowers such as Eschscholzia Chiffon varieties/Series. Among other award winners bred by Kees were Achillea millefolium ‘Summer Pastels’ Group, the first F1 hybrid Delphinium 'Centurion Sky Blue' (Centurion Series), Salvia ‘Lady in Red’ and the popular Verbena ‘Peaches and Cream’.

He traveled widely and continuously during his lifetime and became a great seed entrepreneur, setting up productions of flower and vegetable seeds in many countries, especially in the third world. At the same time he established a valuable network of growers and customers from many countries.

He was a tremendous supporter of RHS Trials, sending material to almost every floral seed trial and many vegetable ones too, frequently of the more unusual or latest breeding. From the late 1990s he was a highly-valued member of the Delphinium Committee, regularly attending meetings despite having to travel from the Netherlands.

With an unrivalled ‘zest for life’ and great sense of fun, Kees Sahin was a gifted linguist: he traveled to Japan as a young man, and learnt to speak Japanese and also mastered several other languages. He was without doubt one of the leading figures in modern seed industry and a charismatic plantsman. He leaves Elisabeth, his son Franjo and daughter Lucia, for whom he named Delphinium cultivars.

(Source: Laurie Scullin, New Product Group, lscullin@thenewproductgroup.com)