Down Wins Patent Fight With Cargill

NEW YORK - Jan 14/05 - SNS -- Dow AgroSciences LLC won a patent dispute with Cargill Inc. over the invention of a canola oil which contains no trans-fatty acids and extremely low levels of saturated fats.

"This ruling vindicates our healthy oil patent position for Natreon(TM) canola oil, currently marketed in North America, Japan and in other countries," said Pete Siggelko, vice president, Plant Genetics and Biotechnology for Dow AgroSciences.

"Natreon canola oil has essentially no trans fats and the lowest saturated fat levels of any oil on the market, key benefits consistent with new dietary guidelines issued just this week by the U.S. federal government," he added.

The recent ruling is one of two interference proceedings initiated by Cargill, Inc. against Dow AgroSciences (US Patents 5,965,755 and US 6,169,190). Dow AgroSciences won the first interference against Cargill, also relating to canola oil, on April 27, 2004.

Together, the two rulings deny all of Cargill's actions pending before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against Dow AgroSciences.

Made from proprietary Dow AgroSciences Nexera(TM) canola seed, Natreon is naturally stable, with high oleic, low linolenic oil and is low in saturated fats. It provides superior performance and health attributes relative to partially hydrogenated oils.

"Natreon is a non-genetically modified product developed through conventional plant breeding," said David Dzisiak, global business leader, Oils and Oilseeds of Dow AgroSciences. "In recent studies it also outperformed hydrogenated soybean oil in terms of stability and fry life, in addition to its health benefits."