Food Companies Remain Committed to Low-Linolenic Soybean Oil

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interest by food companies to reduce trans fats has supported continued demand for Vistive® low-linolenic soybean oil.  As a result, processors across the Midwest are actively seeking contracts with growers for Vistive acres this season.

This provides a great opportunity for farmers located near participating grain elevators and processing plants to plant Vistive soybeans with the Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield® trait in 2010.

"These Vistive products demonstrated strong performance this past season, and the 2010 brand lineup offers many new, high-performing Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield Vistive varieties," said Lisa Flynn, Monsanto Soybean Traits Marketing Manager. "Vistive farmers not only benefit from good yield potential, but also a premium of 60-cents per-bushel that will add directly to their bottom line."

Introduced in 2005, Vistive low-lin soybeans can reduce or eliminate trans fats in food.  Currently, Vistive oil is being used by multiple food companies that are looking for looking for healthier oil alternatives.  For 2010, processors are contracting for Vistive acres in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.

Monsanto Company's (NYSE: MON) commitment to quality food traits includes new Vistive Gold, which is currently in the company's research-and-development pipeline. Previously known as Vistive III, Vistive Gold looks to deliver a trans fat-free, reduced saturated fat soybean oil with a profile similar to olive oil. The company recently completed submissions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration in support of the Vistive Gold trait.

Farmers interested in planting Vistive brand Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans this season are encouraged to talk to their seed dealer or Monsanto sales representative, or visit www.vistive.com and www.genuity.com.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com . Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo on Facebook® at www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto's Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Biotechnology Industry Organization.

Commercialization of Vistive Gold will be dependent on many factors including successful conclusion of the regulatory process

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Genuity™, Genuity and Design™, Genuity Icons, Roundup®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Vistive® and Vistive and Design® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2010 Monsanto Company.

SOURCE Monsanto Company