Kemin Contributes Global Soil Samples and Strain Collections to University of Iowa

The Contribution Will Increase the Profile of Iowa's Biotech
Industry by Creating Significant Opportunity for Iowa Researchers
DES MOINES, Iowa--(Business Wire)--
Kemin Industries made a contribution of 34,365 soil samples and
39,662 microbial strains to the University of Iowa today. The soil
samples, collected from every continent and virtually every known
ecology on the planet, is a tremendous source of genetic diversity for
advanced medical discovery and biocatalytic applications of
microorganisms and enzymes. Many of the soil samples come from old
rain forests and/or ecologies that no longer exist.

Kemin's strain collection consists of microorganisms isolated from
these soils and includes actinomycetes, bacteria, and fungi. Each
sample of soil contains millions of microorganisms, many of which have
never been described or analyzed before. The soil samples can be mined
for new microorganisms or genetic material for the discovery of new
molecules critical to medical and industrial applications.

University of Iowa's Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing
will implement a streamlined process for early stage screening for
various enzymes. The collection will be openly offered to researchers,
companies, and individuals who wish to mine the microorganisms for
their own applications including screening for secondary metabolites
and enzyme applications.

"The soil samples and strain collections are valuable and unique
assets," said Dr. Chris Nelson, president of Kemin Industries. "We are
very pleased to share it with the trusted and experienced University
of Iowa researchers who will collaborate with us, other companies, and
inventors to discover molecules and enzymes that could become vital to
the improvement of human and animal nutrition and health."

"The University of Iowa is always looking for opportunities to
engage with industries in research and development with practical
outcomes in mind," said Dr. Mani Subramanian, Director of the
University of Iowa Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing. "We are
fortunate to have an enthusiastic partner like Kemin Industries to
help us achieve this goal."

Potential discoveries in the soil samples and the strain
collections could also lead to worldwide recognition for the
University of Iowa and Iowa's biotech industry.

The soil samples and strain collections will create more
opportunities for Iowa inventors. "The genetic diversity of our
samples could lead to discoveries worth millions of dollars to the
researchers, the University, and the state of Iowa," continued Nelson,
who is also the chair of Iowa Department of Economic Development's
Bioscience Alliance. "Kemin is committed to creating opportunities for
bioscience companies to grow within the state of Iowa."

About the University of Iowa Center for Biocatalysis and
Bioprocessing

For more than 20 years, the UI Center for Biocatalysis and
Bioprocessing (CBB) has combined first-class scientific faculty with
cutting-edge facilities to reshape and define new technologies for
chemical, pharmaceutical, nutritional and agrochemical industries. The
CBB's multidisciplinary faculty is dedicated to education and
research, while the CBB laboratories develop and produce novel
biotechnology products. http://www.uiowa.edu/-biocat/index.html

Kemin Industries - Molecular ingenuity with integrity.

Founded in 1961, Kemin Industries Inc. (www.kemin.com) provides
health and nutritional solutions to the Agrifoods, Food Ingredients,
Pet Food and Human Health and Pharmaceutical Industries. Kemin
Industries operates in more than 60 countries with manufacturing
facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Singapore, South Africa,
Thailand and the United States. Kemin. Inspired Molecular
Solutions(TM).

Note: In the Internet address noted in this news release, there is
a "tilde" between edu./ and biocat. This symbol may not appear
properly (or appear as a dash) in some systems.

Kemin Industries
Charlotte Jacobs, 515-248-4020
charlotte.jacobs@kemin.com
or
Stephens & Associates
Donna Schwartze, 913-499-7814
dschwartze@stephens-adv.com
or
University of Iowa
Jennifer Brown, 319-335-9917
jennifer-l-brown@uiowa.edu

Copyright Business Wire 2008