NUTRACEA SIGNS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH AZELIS

EL DORADO HILLS, California, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Agreements With Multi-National Partners Extends Company's Reach Into 27
Countries


NutraCea (OTC Bulletin Board: NTRZ), a world leader in stabilized rice
bran research and technology, announced today it has entered into
distribution agreements with all European members of the Azelis Group S.A., a
large multinational conglomerate comprised of a network of market leaders
specializing in Life Sciences, which includes the pharmaceutical, veterinary,
food and cosmetics sectors. The agreements signed with each of the Azelis
operating units will open up distribution for NutraCea's stabilized rice bran
products in over 27 countries in eight regions of the world.

"On behalf of our members, we are pleased to be working with NutraCea and
distributing their products especially within the life sciences area, which
includes the food, nutraceutical and veterinary sectors. The members of our
network embrace new and evolving technologies. We introduce to them to enable
our customers to deliver cutting edge solutions for the end user. Each of our
regions has its own degreed Food Technology Specialists, which includes a
staff of 110 colleagues (of which more than 70 are food technologists)
demonstrating the importance of these activities to the Azelis Group," said
Tonio Grassmann, Azelis Food&Health Specialties, Group Coordinator.

The Azelis Group European members are: Azelis UK, Broste LTD. which
covers Scotland, England and Ireland; Azelis Scandinavia Broste A/S -- which
includes Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia;
Azelis Italia -- Giulio Gross -- which covers Italy; Azelis Spain -- Impex
Quimica SA -- for Spain; Azelis Benelux -- including Belgium, Netherlands and
Luxemburg; Azelis France -- Arnaud SA -- for France; Azelis Germany --
Kraemer & Martin -- encompassing Germany, Austria and Switzerland; and Azelis
PECO -- Arnaud SA -- covering Greece, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Rumania,
Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and the Ukraine.

"These distributorship arrangements are strategically very important for
NutraCea," commented Brad Edson, CEO of NutraCea. "Over the last year it has
become increasingly clear that the demand for Stabilized Rice Bran is
international in scope, but it has also become apparent there is value in
leveraging off of large existing distribution networks, locally established
throughout the world, to service that demand. Agreements such as this allow
us to build cost effective sales and distribution channels within the
specific countries that we are servicing. We thank the management team at
Azelis Group for its commitment to NutraCea."

Mr. Hans Udo Wenzel, CEO of Azelis, noted, "The opportunity to bring the
still relatively untapped food and health benefits of NutraCea's Stabilized
Rice Bran to our various members fits our corporate goal to provide new and
exciting food and health care products to the European region through our
broad-based distribution network. We expect an enthusiastic reception from
all of our members as they offer NutraCea's exceptional products to their
customers, and we eagerly await the planned entry of NutraCea's European
plants, which will provide substantial savings in transportation costs that
will benefit our customers."

"We are pleased to sign distributorship agreements with the full
complement of European Azelis Group members, and are grateful for the
assistance we have received from all of those who have been instrumental in
assisting NutraCea to secure such contracts. This relationship with Azelis
has extended NutraCea's reach throughout Europe with a strong distribution
partner. By signing these types of agreements, it enables NutraCea to build a
solid foundation of demand throughout Europe through a single entity. The
Azelis Group is well known for supplying its customers, many of whom are food
companies, with the most cutting edge technologies to remain at the forefront
of their respective marketplace," said Kody Newland, Senior Vice President of
Sales of NutraCea. "We are excited about the possibilities of growing
NutraCea's international presence by working with the Azelis Group."


About Azelis Group S.A.

Azelis is Europe's fastest growing distributor of specialty chemicals,
polymers and related services. It was formed to meet the different local
needs of customers and suppliers across Europe and was established in 2001
through the merger of Novorchem in Italy and Arnaud in France. The strategy
is to grow by acquiring go-ahead specialist chemical distribution companies
that are already successful in their own right, providing them with the means
and resources to grow in their own geographic region and to take advantage of
the synergies of being part of a larger group. The areas of specialty focus
include Life Sciences (Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, Food, Cosmetics), Coatings
(Paints, Inks, Adhesives, Varnishes), Polymer Processes (Standard polymers,
Engineering Plastics, Rubber, Composites and Plastics Additives) and Chemical
Industries (Performance, Industrial Chemicals). By the end of 2006, Azelis
was comprised of 32 companies operating in Benelux, Baltic States, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy,
Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, UK and the Ukraine. In
addition, Azelis opened an office in Shanghai in 2005. Turnover has grown
from Eur348 million in 2001 to over Eur900 million in 2006 and the group has
around 860 staff.


About NutraCea

NutraCea is a world leader in stabilized rice bran technology. Through
its wholly owned subsidiary RiceX, the Company manufacturers as well as
distributes products and food ingredients made from rice bran through its
proprietary technology and processes. The Company has developed intellectual
property to create a range of proprietary product formulations, delivery
systems and whole food nutrition products. NutraCea's proprietary technology
enables the creation of food and nutrition products from rice bran, normally
a wasted by-product of standard rice processing. In addition to its whole
foods products, NutraCea develops families of health promoting
"nutraceuticals," including natural arthritic relief and cholesterol-lowering
products. More information can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC
and you can visit the NutraCea web site: http://www.NutraCea.com .


Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may
differ from those projected due to a number of risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to (i) the possibility that the distribution
network proves less effective than contemplated for the Company's products,
(ii) the possibility that the Company will be delayed in completing
additional manufacturing facilities or otherwise providing product, (iii) the
possibility that some or all of the other pending matters considered by the
Company may not proceed as contemplated, and (iv) the matters specified in
the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These
statements are made based upon current expectations that are subject to risk
and uncertainty. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking
statements in this news release to reflect actual results, changes in
assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking
information. Assumptions and other information that could cause results to
differ from those set forth in the forward-looking information can be found
in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the company's most recent periodic report.


Company Contact:
Margie Adelman
Senior V.P.
NutraCea
+1-916-933-7000 Ext. 646
madelman@nutracea.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Stephen D. Axelrod, CFA
Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger Associates, LLC
+1-212-370-4500
steve@wolfeaxelrod.com

Media Contact:
Alisa D. Steinberg
Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger Associates, LLC
+1-212-370-4500 x 26
alisa@wolfeaxelrod.com



Web site: http://www.nutracea.com