Cargill Propels Shipping Forward With Largest Kite-Powered Vessel

GENEVA, February 28, 2011 - Cargill has signed an agreement with SkySails GmbH & Co. KG (SkySails) to
use wind power technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping
industry. SkySails, based in Hamburg, has developed innovative, patented
technology that uses a kite which flies ahead of the vessel and generates
enough propulsion to reduce consumption of bunker fuel by up to 35 percent in
ideal sailing conditions.

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110228/440446 )

Next December Cargill will install the 320m2 kite on a handysize vessel
of between 25,000 and 30,000 deadweight tonnes, which the company has on
long-term charter, making it the largest vessel propelled by a kite in the
world. Cargill and SkySails aim to have the system fully operational in the
first quarter of 2012. Cargill is currently helping SkySails develop and test
the technology and has identified a ship-owner - supportive of environmental
stewardship in the industry - with whom it will partner on the project.

The SkySails kite will be connected to the ship by rope and is
computer-controlled by an automatic pod to maximise the wind benefits. The
kite functions at a height of between 100 to 420 metres and flies in a figure
of eight formation. The SkySails system is automated and requires only
minimal action by the crew. An automatic control system steers the kite and
adjusts its flight path. All information related to the system's operation is
displayed on the monitor of the SkySails' workstation on the ship's bridge.

"For some time, we have been searching for a project that can help drive
environmental best practice within the shipping industry and see this as a
meaningful first step," said G.J. van den Akker, head of Cargill's ocean
transportation business. "The shipping industry currently supports 90 percent
of the world's international physical trade. In a world of finite resources,
environmental stewardship makes good business sense. As one of the world's
largest charterers of dry bulk freight, we take this commitment extremely
seriously. In addition to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, the SkySails
technology aims to significantly reduce fuel consumption and costs. We are
very impressed with the technology and see its installation on one of our
chartered ships as the first part of an ongoing, long-term partnership."

"We are delighted that Cargill is the first company to embrace our
technology on a vessel this large as part of its commitment to help reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry", said Stephan Wrage,
managing director of SkySails. "We are excited that our technology will
shortly be used on a handysize vessel for the first time and see great
potential to incorporate it on larger ships in the future."

According to a United Nations (International Maritime Organisation)
study, up to 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) could be saved every
year by the broad application of the SkySails' technology on the world
merchant fleet.[1] This figure would equate to 11 percent of the CO2
emissions of Germany.

Cargill is a significant global transporter of agricultural, energy and
industrial commodities. Although the company does not today own or operate
ships, its ocean transportation business ships more than 185 million tonnes
of commodities each year, in the process connecting supply from areas of
surplus with demand in areas of deficit.

Photos are available for download at
www.skysails.info/english/information-center/press-lounge/photos-graphics/

Notes for Editors

About Cargill

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural,
financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the
privately held company employs 131,000 people in 66 countries.

Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and
is committed to sharing its global knowledge and experience to help meet
economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For
more information, visit www.cargill.com

About Cargill Ocean Transportation

Cargill's Ocean Transportation business is headquartered in Geneva with
offices in London, Amsterdam, New Jersey, Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Its global team has a unique blend of experience across shipping,
commodities and risk management and offers its customers a number of ocean
freight solutions across all dry market segments and tankers. In recent
years, the business has built on its reputation for excellence in risk
management by putting a strong focus on raising health & safety and quality
standards across the industry. This partnership provides a unique opportunity
for Ocean Transportation to build on these high standards and publicly
demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Cargill recognises that its continued success depends on the growth and
health of its communities and partners, as well as the vitality and
conservation of natural resources. The company works with a diverse group of
global, national and local organisations to support responsible economic
development, help protect the environment and improve communities. For more
information, visit
www.cargill.com/products/energy-transportation/ocean-transportation/index.jsp

(Due to the length of these URLs, it may be necessary to copy and paste
the hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the
space if one exists.)

About SkySails

The Hamburg-based company SkySails GmbH & Co. KG is the market and
technology leader for automated towing kite systems. Its internationally
patented, high-performance wind propulsion system for cargo ships - the
SkySails-System - can reduce the fuel consumption of a cargo vessel by 10 to
35% on annual average, depending on the prevailing wind conditions.

The latest SkySails product SKS C 320 has a propulsion power of more than
2,000 kW (approx. 2,700 HP). It can save up to 10 tons of fuel per day as
well as SOx, NOx and CO2 emissions (= approx. 32 tons of CO2). The
SkySails-System can be installed as an auxiliary wind propulsion on virtually
all existing and new build ships.

SkySails was founded in 2001 and currently has about 80 employees. Lead
investors are the renowned ship financing company Jan Luiken Oltmann Gruppe
GmbH & Co. KG based in Leer, the highly respected marine engine supplier
Zeppelin Power Systems GmbH & Co. KG and the Dutch Life Sciences and
Materials Sciences Company Royal DSM N.V.

For more information, visit www.skysails.com

[1] Second IMO GHG Study 2009, International Maritime Organization, pg.
271 ff.

www.cargill.com/news-center/news-releases/index.jsp

    CONTACT: 

    Cargill International,
    S.A.
    Chemin De-Normandie 14
    1206 Geneva
    Switzerland

    Francis De Rosa: +44-1932-861174
    francis_derosa@cargill.com

    Corinne Holtshausen: +44-1932-861174
    corinne_holtshausen@cargill.com

    Anne Staack: +49-40-702-99-444
    anne.staack@skysails.de

Francis De Rosa: +44-1932-861174, francis_derosa at cargill.com Corinne Holtshausen: +44-1932-861174, corinne_holtshausen at cargill.com Anne Staack: +49-40-702-99-444, anne.staack at skysails.de