Dow AgroSciences U.S. Patent Application for New Class of Herbicide Tolerant Traits Allowed

Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), announced today the allowance of its U.S. patent application for crop plants that contain one of Dow AgroSciences’ new class of herbicide tolerant traits. The trait, which has shown exceptional promise for use in corn and other monocots, conveys robust tolerance to broadleaf and grass herbicides, including 2,4-D and the FOP family of herbicides.

Dow AgroSciences was previously granted patents for crops containing this herbicide tolerant trait in New Zealand and South Africa. In addition, Dow AgroSciences has filed for broad patent protection in major crop growing countries around the world. Its patent filings are expected to provide proprietary protection for plants containing the trait, methods for controlling glyphosate resistant weeds, and uses of the trait in combination with 2,4-D, the FOP family of herbicides, and other broad spectrum and selective herbicides.

"The continual expansion of our IP portfolio will help ensure Dow AgroSciences has a leading position in herbicide tolerance in key crops,” said Tony Klemm, Dow AgroSciences Global Business Leader. "Our technology platform will include new herbicide products for use ‘over-the-top’ of crops containing Dow AgroSciences traits, providing new tools for the control of glyphosate resistant and difficult to control weeds.”

Pending regulatory approval in key countries and leading with the U.S. patent approval, Dow AgroSciences expects to introduce this technology system in corn as early as 2012 with other Dow AgroSciences herbicide tolerant traits in soybeans and cotton to follow.

About Dow AgroSciences

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative agrochemical and biotechnology solutions globally. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has sales of $4.5 billion. Learn more at www.dowagro.com.

About The Dow Chemical Company

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.