Exhibit 10.1

CONFIDENTIAL

EXCEPTION LETTER

June 17, 2003

June 17, 2003

Robert
L. Erwin 435 Merganser Place Davis, CA 95616

Re:  Separation of Employment Due to Reduction-in-Force Layoff

Dear
Bob:

I write to confirm that your position has been eliminated and your employment with Large Scale Biology Corporation (the Company) has terminated effective at close of business
April 14, 2003.  As you have been informed, the Company is reducing its workforce due to the need to reduce operating costs. Your final paycheck for wages earned through April 14, 2003, including your balance of accrued but unused vacation has
previously been provided to you.

While we regret the impact on you, enclosed you will find information and materials we hope will assist you with your transition:

| |  | Employment Separation Information which includes information on:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
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| |  | 2003 Severance Benefit Plan and related materials which describe the severance benefits available under the Plan, and the conditions that must be satisfied for you to
receive such benefits  a severance payment and Company-paid COBRA premiums due for group health insurance coverage for you and your dependents, less any shared cost for which you are currently responsible.        
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
| |   | Please be aware that the Plan Administrator is exercising discretion under the Plan and is making additional Severance Benefits available to you under the Plan compared to those
described in the Severance Guidelines, Sections III.B.1-2 of the Plan.  Rather than Severance Benefits under the Plan as described in Section III.B.1-2, you will receive the following severance benefits:



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June 17, 2003 Page 2 of 4

| |  | 1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Severance pay of a lump sum of  $79,500.00 and  $19,875.00 per month for 12consecutive months less current withholding for employment taxes.                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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| |  | 2.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | You will also receive LSBC Common Stock equal in market value to $56,500.00 based on the NASDAQ closing price of such stock on June 30, 2003 in accordance with the provisions of the Stock
Issuance Agreement as amended June 17, 2003 between you and the Company.                                                                                       
| |  | 3.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Reimbursement of COBRA payment for you and your eligible dependents net of shared costs for 16 months (medical, dental and vision).                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
| |  | 4.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Reimbursement up to $71.55 per month for 16 consecutive months to pay life insurance premiums for term life insurance coverage on your life not to exceed $477,000.00 whether or not the
coverage results from an increase in coverage to an existing policy or results from the purchase of a separate insurance policy.                                  
| |  | 5.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Immediate full vesting of all stock options and an extension of the exercise period for the remainder of the ten-year life of such options.                                                                                                                                                                                                                
| |  | 6.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Upon cessation of your service as a director of the Company, ownership of the laptop computer, printer and peripherals and cell phone currently assigned to you will be transferred to you
after all Company information and specified Company-licensed software have been removed.                                                                        
| |  | 7.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Continuance of cell phone use for 16 months from June 17, 2003 up to 700 minutes per month subject to the continuation of the Companys current cell phone plan and any subsequent plan
if the same usage does not result in any increased cost to the Company for the subsequent plan over the cost of such usage under the current plan.                 
| |  | 8.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The Company agrees that Kevin Ryan and Ronald Artale will not make any negative or disparaging statement or comment about you unless such statements are made truthfully to the extent
required by a subpoena or other legal process.                                                                                                                      
| |  | 9.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The one-year service period through June 30, 2003 required under your Stock Issuance Agreement will be waived, and you will be issued stock under the Stock Issuance Agreement for the
portion of your cash salary reduced by approximately 19% from April 1, 2003 through April 14, 2003 based on the NASDAQ closing price of LSBC stock on June 30, 2003.
| |  | 10.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | The right of the Company to amend or terminate the 2003 Severance Plan such that it will result in the cessation of your severance benefits will only apply in the event the Company becomes
insolvent (the Companys cash is insufficient to meet its current liabilities).                                                                               
| |  | 11.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | In the event of your death prior to your receipt of any cash or stock severance benefits provided to you under the Plan as described in this Exception Letter, any outstanding monthly cash
payments and COBRA reimbursement severance benefits at the time of your death shall be payable to your spouse, if living, otherwise, to your estate.           
| |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
| |  | Because the Plan Administrator is providing you the opportunity to receive Severance Benefits under the Plan that are more than those described in the Severance Guidelines,
Sections III.B.1-2 of the Plan, your receipt of such increased Severance Benefits under the Plan will be subject to a strict non-disclosure and confidentiality provision (regarding this offer and your receipt of increased Severance Benefits) which
is contained in paragraph 11 of the General Release of All Claims document.
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| |  | Please be sure to carefully read the Plan and the General Release of All Claims document and comply with the conditions contained therein  at all times even before
you accept the severance opportunity.  Paragraph 11 of the General Release of All Claims document contains a damages provision in the event you do not comply with the strict non-disclosure and confidentiality provision.  If you
accept the increased Severance Benefits offered under                                                  



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June 17, 2003 Page 3 of 4

| |   | the Plan per this letter, you will need to sign and return the General Release of All Claims document within the time period specified in that document.  Since one
of the benefits available to you is Company-paid COBRA premiums, you may want to complete the COBRA Election Form and return it along with your signed General Release of All Claims document.  The General Release of All Claims
document does not limit you in the performance of your fiduciary obligations to the Company as a director.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
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| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
| |  | Notice of Right to Continue Group Health Coverage - COBRAand anElection Form  COBRA, You have previously elected to continue the COBRA coverage by completing
the latter form for you and/or your eligible dependents under any or all of the Companys group health plans after your termination date.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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| |  | If you have a Section 125 account balance LSBCs plan states upon termination you have 30 days from the date of termination in which to submit your claims for reimbursement. If you
have a positive account balance you may be eligible for continuation coverage until the duration of the current calendar plan year. Continuation coverage would allow you to incur new medical, dental, or vision care expenses and zero-out your account
balance. You have 60 days to elect Section 125 continuation coverage. The continuation coverage amount you  pay will be 100% of your current contribution (per payroll period) and your contribution must be made with after-tax dollars. 
Please review the enclosed COBRA notice for more information and contact Human Resources if you would like to continue your Section 125 Plan.
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
| |  | Closing statement of your exercisable options of LSBC stock.  If you wish to exercise your option to purchase shares under the plan, please contact John Rakitan at (707)
469-2315.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
| |  | Distribution Election Form for Biosource Technologies, Inc. 401(k) Plan.  You have completed this form  to withdraw funds from the 401(k) Plan.  If you had not
returned the Distribution Election Form within 60 days, a check for the full amount of your account balance, minus the mandatory income tax withholding, would have been sent to you (see Section III  Payment Made to You).  Because your
balance was greater than $5,000, you had your choice to either withdraw funds or leave them in the 401 (k) Plan.  You withdraw them to utilize an IRA as another investment vehicle.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
| |  | Special Tax Notice Regarding Plan Payments (IRS Safe Harbor Notice). This notice provides important information regarding how your decision regarding your 401(k) account
will affect your taxes.Questions about specific impact of your choices should be discussed with the appropriate tax or investment professional.  This notice is for your records and should be kept with copies of any other forms you may
complete at this time                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
| |  | Information on unemployment insurance benefits.  Because your employment is being terminated due to a layoff, you have the right to apply for unemployment insurance benefits.  In
order to apply for such government-sponsored benefits, you should inquire at your local office of the California Employment Development Department (EDD) whose addresses and telephone numbers can be found by consulting the
blue government pages of your local telephone book under California, State of.  Once you apply, the EDD will determine your eligibility for such benefits that are described in the enclosed pamphlet, Californias
Program for the Unemployed.                                                                                                                                                                 



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June 17, 2003 Page 4 of 4

On behalf of the Company, I thank you for your past contributions as its
employee and wish you the very best in your future endeavors.  You should carefully review all of the enclosed materials, and call Human Resources at 707-469-2351 if you have any questions.

|Very truly yours,                                               | 
|--------------------------------------------------------------- | 
|                                                                | 
|LARGE SCALE BIOLOGY CORPORATION                                 | 
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|/s/ RONALD J. ARTALE                                            | 
|                                                                | 
|Ronald J. Artale Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 
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|KP/jmb                                                          | 
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|Enclosures                                                      |