ARDMORE, Okla. and LIMBURGERHOF, Germany – The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and BASF Plant Science today announced a research collaboration to enhance crop productivity. The collaboration's aim is to develop traits that help improve plants' health and yield by using a model plant, Medicago truncatula (commonly called barrel medic).

Researchers at the Noble Foundation, which is a leader in Medicago genetics, will seek to develop traits for conveying yield stability and disease resistance in select crops whereas BASF Plant Science receives exclusive options on specific Noble Foundation research findings. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"The Noble Foundation is excited to work with BASF Plant Science, a pacesetter in agricultural biotechnology, to develop solutions against diseases affecting the world's agricultural producers," said Richard Dixon, D. Phil., Senior Vice President and Director of the Plant Biology Division at the Noble Foundation. "This collaboration was only possible due to our Board's strategic investment in Medicago research."

The collaboration's research will be lead by Kirankumar Mysore, Ph.D., Associate Professor and co-principal investigator Srinivasa Rao Uppalapati, Ph.D., both with the Plant Biology Division of the Noble Foundation. Mysore and his research team are generating genetic resources in Medicago and possess extensive experience in plant science research.

"The Noble Foundation is recognized worldwide for its broad research spectrum on plant improvement to enhance agricultural productivity," said Dr. Juergen Schweden, Vice President, Research and Development at BASF Plant Science. "Our current agreement will help to meet the increasing demand for agricultural output by securing the yield of crops worldwide."

BASF Plant Science's efforts align with the Noble Foundation's mission to assist farmers and ranchers. The Noble Foundation performs fundamental plant science research, plant breeding and agricultural programs, such as consultation and education, to achieve its objective.

Media Inquiries:

###

About BASF Plant Science
BASF, the Chemical Company, consolidated its plant biotechnology activities in BASF Plant Science in 1998. Today, about 700 employees at BASF Plant Science work to optimize crops for more efficient agriculture, renewable raw materials and healthier nutrition. Projects include increasing yield in key grain crops such as corn, rice and soybeans, higher content of Omega-3s in oil crops to help prevent cardiovascular disease, and potatoes with optimized starch composition for industrial use. To find out more about BASF Plant Science, please visit www.basf.com/plantscience.

08-052

###

News Release Issued: November 24, 2008

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.