Monsanto Chief Technology Officer to Discuss Company's Research and Development Efforts to Increase Farm Productivity

ST. LOUIS, March 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Innovation in agriculture has brought improved productivity and new value to farmers, Monsanto Company's (NYSE: MON) Robb Fraley will tell investors today at the Credit Suisse Global Agrochemicals Conference in London.  That value will continue to translate to opportunity for both Monsanto and its farmer customers, Fraley will say.

Explaining that this opportunity will stem from Monsanto's continued ability to offer farmers better products, Fraley will discuss the general landscape for agricultural innovation through technology.  As companies across agriculture compete to help farmers meet growing global demand for food and feed, increasing interest in and adoption of biotechnology send a promising signal for agriculture, he will explain.

"Success for Monsanto is delivering outstanding seeds and traits that increase productivity on farm, whether that's through breeding or biotechnology," Fraley will say.  "We've talked about growing global demand before, and let me be clear: the question isn't whether we'll see the demand we're expecting, but whether it may in fact be greater.  Farmers will be challenged with meeting this demand, and our central focus is on helping them do just that.  This isn't science for science's sake, but rather for the sake of innovation that creates better yield and real value on the farm."

Earlier this year, Monsanto announced a record-breaking pipeline update with 11 project advancements.  Touching on some of those advancements, Fraley will discuss the roles of Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn and Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybeans as platform technologies.

Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn already offers the most comprehensive grower protection package available on the market, providing higher yield on reduced refuge with broader insect control.  Monsanto recently completed its regulatory submissions in conjunction with Dow AgroSciences for its Genuity™  SmartStax™ refuge-in-a-bag product that would provide greater convenience for farmers, allowing fence row to fence row planting without a separate refuge.  

A full toolkit of reduced-refuge products for corn growers complement the Genuity™ SmartStax™ foundation, including Genuity™ VT Double PRO™, the industry's only above-ground stack with a 5 percent refuge and Genuity™ VT Triple PRO™, the only triple-stack product with reduced refuge for the South.  

In soybeans, Fraley will discuss the opportunity created as Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield® matures into a platform for additional next-generation trait products currently in development in Monsanto's soybean pipeline.  

"We are committed to maintaining this momentum in our pipeline," Fraley will say.  "Farmers have spoken.  We know what they want, and that's a seed they can depend on to deliver the yields they need.  Over the next decade, we will continue to provide just that through the biotech and breeding gains you'll see as our yield and stress pipeline emerges."

Fraley's presentation will be available at http://www.monsanto.com/investors when he begins presenting at 3:05 a.m. C.T.

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.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this release are "forward-looking statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

Notes to editors: Monsanto and the Vine design, Genuity, SmartStax, VT Double PRO, VT Triple PRO and Roundup Ready 2 Yield are trademarks owned by Monsanto Technology LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT    Media – Kelli  Powers (314-694-4003)

SOURCE Monsanto Company