Continued Demand Makes Monsanto and Agriculture Unique Investment Opportunities, Global Seeds and Traits Lead to Tell Investors

ST. LOUIS, March 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As world population growth and dietary shifts continue, Monsanto Company's (NYSE: MON) ongoing investment in agriculture is bringing more choices to the farm than ever before, Brett Begemann, executive vice president – seeds and traits, will tell investors today at the Nomura Global Chemical Leaders Conference in Dublin. Those choices will help farmers around the world meet growing global demand for grain.

"Given the projections for global population growth and increasing dietary demands, the case stands to either grow more food on more acres or increase yields on the same acreage to meet the increased need for grain," Begemann will say.  "With limited arable land, this future demand must be met through improvements in yield per acre.  Simply put, the world is going to need to produce more with less, and that's what we help farmers do."

Begemann will discuss Monsanto's target of helping farmers double 2000 yields in corn and soybeans by 2030 through technology, which has driven Monsanto's investment in biotechnology and breeding.  "Combined with the germplasm libraries and molecular markers Monsanto has developed, this has equipped the company with the tools to deliver the highest-yielding, best-performing seed," Begemann will say.

In the company's current commercial line up, Monsanto has the industry's most complete product portfolio, offering farmers a choice of compelling next-generation technologies.  In corn, Monsanto is unique in its ability to offer three different trait packages with reduced-refuge requirements that allow farmers to minimize the planting of structured refuges.  Headlined by Genuity™ SmartStax™, the most comprehensive grower-protection package available on the market, the portfolio also includes 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.

Within the commercial portfolio, Begemann also will discuss Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybeans, which will become a platform for expanded offerings in both the United States and Brazil as the commercial portfolio grows with new trait introductions through this decade.  Begemann will touch on new traits in the pipeline that are expected to be introduced to the Genuity™ SmartStax™ corn and Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean platforms.

The story is similar for cotton, Begemann will say, where the company's unprecedented investment in breeding has brought forth the best line-up in cotton genetics available.

"When you take it all into consideration – the increase in global demand, our history of product performance and innovation and the continued growth of agricultural biotech – I feel very good about our outlook and the outlook for the world's farmers to meet the challenge of feeding a growing population," Begemann will say.

Begemann's presentation is not webcast, but the presentation will be available at http://www.monsanto.com/investors when he begins presenting at 3 a.m. C.T.  

Second-Quarter Earnings Report

Monsanto will report its second-quarter fiscal earnings results April 7, including its financial and operational report for the company's first half of fiscal-year 2010.

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.

Media – Kelli  Powers (314-694-4003)

SOURCE Monsanto Company

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