SunOpta Announces System Sale to Celunol

The SunOpta Bioprocess Group has been designing, building, andoptimizing biomass conversion plants for over thirty years. Endproducts include cellulosic ethanol, cellulosic butanol, xylitol, anddietary fibre for human consumption. Raw materials include wheatstraw, corn stover, grasses, oat hulls, wood chips, and sugarcanebagasse.

Celunol Corp. (www.celunol.com) is a privately held companyheadquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts moving rapidly to commercializeits proprietary technology for producing ethanol from a wide array ofcellulosic biomass feedstocks--including bagasse, agricultural waste,wood products and dedicated energy crops. The company is currentlycompleting an expansion of its existing pilot facility and is movingforward to construct a demonstration plant based on its technologylater this year. Celunol aspires to develop and build a portfolio ofethanol facilities in the U.S. and abroad. Shareholders in the companyinclude Braemar Energy Ventures, Charles River Ventures, KhoslaVentures, and Rho Capital Partners.

Murray Burke, Vice President and General Manager of SunOpta'sBioProcess Group, commented, "The combination of SunOpta and Celunolprocess technologies will lead to a very competitive solution forproducing cellulosic ethanol from various biomass substrates. We areexcited to be working with Celunol on the first commercial cellulosicethanol plant in the United States and look forward to the massivegrow out in this market."

Carlos Riva, President and Chief Executive Officer of Celunol,noted the advantages of acquiring the SunOpta technology,"Incorporating SunOpta's biomass pretreatment system into ourproprietary process will further enhance the operating efficiencies ofour Jennings facility, and will advance the rapid commercialization ofCelunol's cellulosic ethanol technology."

About SunOpta Inc.

SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses,focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic foodmarkets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group,which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of naturaland organic food products integrated from seed through packagedproducts; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, andrecycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and theSunOpta BioProcess Group which engineers and markets proprietary steamexplosion technology systems for the pulp, bio-fuel and foodprocessing industries. Each of these business units has proprietaryproducts and services that give it a solid competitive advantage inits sector.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release may constitute"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United StatesPrivate Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Theseforward-looking statements include, but are not limited to referencesto business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, capitalexpenditure plans, business and operational growth plans andreferences to the future growth of the business. These forward lookingstatements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by theCompany in light of its experience and its interpretation of currentconditions, historical trends and expected future developments as wellas other factors that the Company believes are appropriate in thecircumstance. However, whether actual results and developments willagree with expectations and predications of the Company is subject tomany risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to; generaleconomic, business or market risk conditions; competitive actions byother companies; changes in laws or regulations or policies of localgovernments, provinces and states as well as the governments of UnitedStates and Canada, many of which are beyond the control of theCompany. Consequently all forward-looking statements made herein arequalified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurancethat the actual results or developments anticipated by the Companywill be realized.
For further information, please contact:

SunOpta Inc. Investment Community Inquiries:
Jeremy N. Kendall, Chairman & CEO Lytham Partners, LLC
Steve Bromley, President & COO Joe Diaz
John Dietrich, Vice President & CFO Robert Blum
Susan Wiekenkamp, Information Officer Joe Dorame
Tel: 905-455-2528, ext 103 Tel: 602-889-9700
susan.wiekenkamp@sunopta.com diaz@lythampartners.com
Website: www.sunopta.com