Diversified Natural Products, Inc. Announces New Investment Partnership With Leading Biotechnology Investors Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Roberts Mitani Aqua Partners, LLC

EAST LANSING, Mich. & NEW YORK--Oct. 7, 2003--Diversified Natural Products, Inc., a leading technology-based company engaged in the commercialization of products from renewable resources, today announced a new investment partner, TTC-RMA Venture Partners LLC (TRVP). TRVP is a technology investment and incubation company jointly owned by Toyota Tshusho Corporation of Nagoya, Japan and Roberts Mitani Aqua Partners, LLC of New York. One of the goals of this partnership is to develop new technologies essential for producing environmentally friendly materials for the automotive industry.

Diversified Natural Products Inc. is a leader in the production of bio-based succinic acid and derivatives, and has developed numerous proprietary products and applications. The technology was spawned in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as a part of a CRADA (cooperative research and development agreement). Diversified Natural Products, in collaboration with the DOE and Michigan State University, has pursued its strategy of developing superior separation and downstream technologies enabled by fermentation technology to achieve an extensive intellectual property portfolio of technology, products and applications that offer superior economics to petroleum-based products.

"We have critical new technology that will serve to replace oil and fossil fuels with renewable resources as feedstocks for many chemicals. Not only will our products offer non-toxic, biodegradable solutions to consumers, they will help in the world's attempt to conserve oil and develop alternative energy sources at a cost competitive to fossil fuels," said Paul Jacobson, CEO of Diversified Natural Products. "We are ready to commercialize our products and with the help of forward thinking companies like Toyota Tsusho, we hope to do so very quickly. Toyota Tsusho is willing to take a leadership position in developing new technologies essential to producing environmentally friendly materials for the automotive industry, and we are delighted to have them as our partner. Succinic acid represents a key 'platform molecule' in the whole bio-refinery concept, and we have the most extensive intellectual property portfolio regarding its production, derivatives and applications."

Dr. Kris A. Berglund, Chief Science Officer of Diversified Natural Products, commented, "Of equal importance to our commitment to environmental stewardship is our goal of enhancing human health. Our gourmet and fungal products, and sodium free salt substitute food ingredients have already begun to make a difference in people's lives. This strategic partnership with TRVP will help propel these products more quickly to market on a global basis."

"TRVP is interested in Diversified Natural Products because of the strength of its technology and the potential applications it affords for growth in new, environmentally friendly products, particularly in the automotive sector," commented Hideki Mitani, Managing Director of TTC RMA. "The company's innovative and technically-sound approach is consistent with our mission to establish a sustainable, environmentally friendly industry based on renewable resources."

About Roberts Mitani Aqua Partners LLC

Roberts Mitani Aqua Partners LLC is an international advisory and private equity group based in New York, specializing in life science, industrial biotechnology, information technology, financial services, and alternative energy. For more information, visit www.rmaqua.com or call 212-582-9800.

About Toyota Tshusho

Toyota Tsusho, the trading arm of Toyota Motor Company was established more than 50 years ago and is globally active in investment and trading in metals, machinery, automotive and related products, industrial materials, energy, food and textiles. Toyota Tsusho is committed to environmental-related businesses, as well as to the realization of a recycling-based economy. It has an extensive international network, including 42 subsidiaries and four branches in 52 nations. The head office is in Japan.

About Diversified Natural Products, Inc.

Diversified Natural Products, Inc. goal is to develop safe, environmentally benign products for everyday use. The company is organized into two major divisions: Fuels and Chemicals located in East Lansing, Michigan and Lulea, Sweden is dedicated to building a leadership position in carbohydrate-based technologies for production of fuels, specialty chemicals and polymers. The Gourmet and Functional Foods division, located in East Lansing, Michigan and Mietoinen, Finland is engaged in the production of specialty mushrooms for gourmet foods, functional foods and nutraceuticals as well as the production and sale of non-sodium salt substitutes. For more information, visit www.dnpco.com or call 517-332-4610.