ADM Awarded Two United States Environmental Protection Agency Presidential Green Chemistry Awards

DECATUR, Ill., June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Archer Daniels Midland Company has won two United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Presidential Green Chemistry Awards. The award-winning technologies were "Archer RC(TM): Nonvolatile, Reactive Coalescent for the Reduction of VOC in Latex Paints(1)" and "NovaLipid(TM): Low Trans Fats and Oils Produced by Enzymatic Interesterification of Vegetable Oils(2)."

Typically five Presidential Green Chemistry Awards are given annually to industry and government sponsors, an academic investigator and a small business. ADM received two of the three awards for industry and government sponsors this year, a first since the awards began ten years ago.

"ADM is pleased to have received two Presidential Green Chemistry Awards this year," stated G. Allen Andreas, Chairman and Chief Executive of ADM. "As an agricultural company, we rely on the Earth's bounty for our livelihood and our commitment to environmental stewardship is a part of our daily operations throughout the Company. Having the innovation of our ADM Research division and our Company's respect for our environment recognized by the USEPA through these two awards is truly gratifying."

Using Green Chemistry to Meet Customers' Demands

Both winning entries show how ADM uses environmentally friendly technology to satisfy customers' and consumers' demands for products that reduce pollution and provide environmental benefits.

ADM's Archer RC(TM), which reduces environmentally harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in latex paints, has allowed the Company to provide its customers with an economically and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional coalescing solvents used in the painting and coatings industry. Archer RC reactive coalescent is the first and only reactive coalescent for latex paints that is non-hazardous and does not contribute to VOC emissions(1). Unlike traditional solvent-based coalescing agents, which volatilize into the atmosphere upon drying, Archer RC reactive coalescent remains in the paint, forming a strong and durable film.

Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced changes to the Nutritional Labeling Education Act that will require the labeling of trans- fats on all nutritional fact panels by January 1, 2006, food manufacturers have been looking for solutions to reduce the amount of trans-fats in their products. ADM, in collaboration with Novozymes North America, Inc., developed an enzymatic interesterification process that is preferable to the chemical interesterification process to reduce trans-fats because it eliminates the use of several chemical catalysts, thus eliminating byproducts and waste streams (solid and water). The enzymatic interesterification process also emits no air pollutants. Several of the Company's NovaLipid products are produced by this enzymatic interesterification process(2).

USEPA Presidential Green Chemistry Awards

The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award was established in 1995 by President Bill Clinton to recognize businesses and individuals who have made outstanding achievements in significantly reducing pollution at its sources and using green chemistry to improve the environment.

Green chemistry is the use of chemistry for pollution prevention. More specifically, green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry is a highly effective approach to pollution prevention because it applies innovative scientific solutions to real-world environmental situations.

The Presidential Green Chemistry Awards Program provides national recognition of outstanding chemical technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use, and that have been or can be utilized by industry in achieving their pollution prevention goals.

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a world leader in agricultural processing. ADM is one of the world's largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is also a leader in the production of soy meal and oil, ethanol, corn sweeteners and flour. In addition, ADM produces value-added food and feed ingredients. Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over 26,000 employees, more than 250 processing plants and net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 of $36.2 billion. Additional information can be found on ADM's Web site at http://www.admworld.com/ .

(1) Archer RC(TM) reactive coalescent is a revolutionary, non-hazardous, naturally derived ingredient for the paint and coatings industry. Tests at PRA Laboratories, Inc. revealed that Archer RC reactive coalescent does not contribute to VOC emissions when tested as part of a representative paint formulation according to EPA Method 24. (2) NovaLipid(TM) products are ADM's line of zero/low trans-fat shortenings, margarines and oils. The NovaLipid portfolio includes naturally stable oils, tropical fats and oils, blended oils, and enzyme interesterified shortenings and margarines to provide alternatives in various food applications including baking, confectionery, snack, frying and cereal products. ADM, in collaboration with Novozymes North America, Inc., developed an enzymatic interesterification process that is preferable to the chemical interesterification process because it eliminates the use of several chemical catalysts, thus eliminating byproducts and waste streams (solid and water). The enzymatic interesterification process also emits no air pollutants.