Monsanto's Enhanced U.S. Portfolio, Best-in-Class Seeds and Traits Designed to Deliver Unit Volume Growth in 2011

ST. LOUIS, May 19, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Its enhanced corn strategy in the United States and increased share in Latin America illustrate Monsanto Company's (NYSE: MON) growth potential, Brett Begemann, executive vice president – Seeds & Traits, will tell investors today at BMO Capital Markets 2010 Agricultural Protein & Fertilizer Conference in New York.

Developing and deploying best-in-class seeds and traits that return value to farmers is what Monsanto does best, Begemann will say, and is the driver of the company's expected mid-teens earnings per share growth opportunity beginning in 2011.

"Our core seeds and traits strategy has not changed," Begemann will say. "True innovation on farm and great products are what Monsanto has always delivered and will continue to deliver in the years to come.  I'm more confident than ever in this business because we have made the necessary tactical adjustments to provide greater certainty in achieving that strategic objective."

Citing a robust product strategy expected to deliver unit volume growth and improved average gross-profit per acre in its U.S. branded corn portfolio in 2011, Begemann will say the company is well-positioned with its most robust product line-up ever, a customer-centric strategy and market research that supports its plan.  

Begemann will announce recent share gains in Latin America, despite a decline in overall acres. Nearly 65 percent of the corn Monsanto sold in Argentina was a double-stack, which drove a one-point share gain.  In Brazil, Monsanto sold five million acres of its YieldGard® Corn Borer, which helped the company realize a three point share gain.  

Begemann will say recently concluded market research indicates that for a majority of U.S. farmers, Monsanto's reduced-refuge family of corn traits products creates a compelling opportunity for conversion and adoption while the company's top-performing product portfolio creates more choices for farmers.

"The data is clear – when you offer innovative, higher-yielding technology at a compelling price, farmers see the value," Begemann will say, adding that Monsanto will maximize its customer-focused approach by looking at pricing as a tool to deliver a value proposition that makes it easier for farmers to adopt and gain experience with new technologies.

Genuity® SmartStax™ remains the anchor for the enhanced product portfolio for the 40 million to 50 million acres in the highest-yielding region of the core Corn Belt.  Monsanto's pilot program with Genuity® VT Double PRO™ proved successful for U.S. corn farmers in geographies with less productive soils and in environments with low rootworm pressure. The first double stack product on the market to include a reduced-refuge option at 5 percent in the Corn Belt, Genuity® VT Double PRO™ rounds out a U.S. portfolio that also includes the company's successful second-generation triple-stack corn, Genuity® VT Triple PRO™.  Genuity® VT Triple PRO™ offers a lower refuge option of 20 percent in the cotton-growing regions in the South.

"What we learned with both our doubles and triples last year was that this family of reduced-refuge products is tremendously appealing to U.S. corn farmers when we demonstrate the value proposition," Begemann will say.  "We expect to effectively execute this new approach to deliver these products to farmers, and in doing so earn volume growth and increase gross profit per acre for farmers and Monsanto."

Discussing Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean seeds, Begemann will note the company achieved broad trial with more than 40 percent of branded customers trying the product this year.  With the 2010 portfolio including new, high-performing Class of '10 varieties that represent 70 percent of the company's branded varieties, Begemann will say Monsanto continues to offer a better match for various growing conditions.  

A live webcast of Begemann's presentation will be available through Monsanto's web site at: http://www.monsanto.com/investors.  Following today's live broadcast set for 11:45 a.m. C.T., a replay of the webcast will be available on the Monsanto web site for three weeks. To access presentation slides and the simultaneous audio webcast of the presentation, visitors may need to download Windows Media Player™ prior to listening to the webcast.

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 the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, 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 Form 10-K Report to the SEC. 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.

Contact | Media – Kelli Powers (314-694-4003)

SOURCE Monsanto Company