Diversa Corporation To Present At Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)'s Press Conference On The Science Of Cellulosic Ethanol Production

SAN DIEGO, March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diversa Corporation will be presenting at the Biotechnology Industry Organization's press conference on cellulosic ethanol production on Monday, March 13, 2006 at 12:00 p.m. ET in the Murrow Room of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Paul Zorner, Diversa's Senior Director of Business Development, will be providing a presentation entitled "Bugs Providing Breakthrough Technology for Cellulosic Ethanol Production -- Enzymes Produced in Microbes and Termite Guts Accelerate the Production of Biofuels."

The panel discussion will focus on how the advances in discovery and development of biotechnologically enhanced enzymes can potentially enable the cost-effective production of cellulosic ethanol, an alternative fuel that was emphasized in President Bush's recent State of the Union speech. Diversa's presentation will demonstrate the capabilities of its products and technologies to dramatically improve the current ethanol production process and how they are being deployed to address the production of cellulosic ethanol.

Diversa has recently emphasized alternative fuels as one of its main focus areas to drive the company's future growth. With significant progress already made in the launch of Ultra-Thin(TM) enzyme, its first commercial enzyme for ethanol production, Diversa has readied itself to help meet the need of breaking the U.S.'s "addiction to oil" referred to by the President.

About Diversa

Diversa Corporation is a leader in applying proprietary genomic technologies for the rapid discovery and optimization of novel protein-based products. Diversa is directing its integrated portfolio of technologies to the discovery, evolution, and production of commercially valuable molecules with agricultural, chemical, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications. Diversa has established alliances and joint ventures with market leaders, such as BASF, Cargill Health and Food Technologies, DuPont Bio-Based Materials, Medarex, Merck, and Xoma. In addition, Diversa has formed a broad strategic relationship with Syngenta AG, a world-leading agribusiness company. Diversa has commercialized products both independently and in collaboration with strategic partners and licensees. Additional information is available at Diversa's website: www.diversa.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" and involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. These include statements related to the ability of biotechnologically enhanced enzymes to enable the cost-effective production of cellulosic ethanol, the ability of Diversa's products to improve the current ethanol production process, the ability of Diversa's emphasis on alternative fuels to drive its future growth, and Diversa's ability to contribute to a reduction in the U.S.'s dependence on oil, all of which are prospective. Such statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include, but are not limited to, risks involved with Diversa's new and uncertain technologies, risks associated with Diversa's dependence on patents and proprietary rights, risks associated with Diversa's protection and enforcement of its patents and proprietary rights, Diversa's dependence on existing collaborations and its ability to achieve milestones under existing and future collaboration agreements, the ability of Diversa and its collaborators to commercialize products using Diversa's technologies, the development or availability of competitive products or technologies, and the future ability of Diversa to enter into and/or maintain collaboration and joint venture agreements. Certain of these factors and others are more fully described in Diversa's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Diversa's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Diversa expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Note: Ultra-Thin is a trademark of Valley Research, inc. Media Contacts: Martin Sabarsky Corporate Development (858) 526-5166 msabarsky@diversa.com Tanya Orth Townsend Inc. for Diversa (858) 457-4888 torth@townsendinc.com

Diversa Corporation

CONTACT: Media, Martin Sabarsky, Corporate Development of DiversaCorporation, +1-858-526-5166, msabarsky@diversa.com; or Tanya Orth ofTownsend Inc. for Diversa, +1-858-457-4888, torth@townsendinc.com

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