Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Yield(TM) Soybeans Receive China Regulatory Approval

Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Yield(TM) Soybeans Receive China Regulatory Approval

Clears Path for Export to the Largest U.S. Soybean Customer

SOURCE Monsanto Company

via PRNewswire

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 4, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monsanto Company (NYSE:

MON) announced today it has received regulatory approval in China for the

importation of Roundup Ready 2 Yield(TM) soybeans. China imports accounted

for approximately 38 percent of U.S. soybean exports in 2007, making it the

largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans. This approval is a significant step

forward in the commercialization of this highly-anticipated soybean

technology.

Roundup Ready 2 Yield is the only second-generation biotechnology trait

in soybeans to achieve regulatory approvals in the United States and key

export markets like China, propelling it to be first to market with 2009

commercial sales. It is also the first in a series of game-changing

technology platforms Monsanto is poised to launch for soybeans, corn and

cotton.

"Farmer excitement around Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans is building

and China regulatory approval demonstrates the acceptance of this product

on a global level," said Brett Begemann, Monsanto's executive vice

president of global commercial business. "Monsanto spoke with tens of

thousands of farmers at the Farm Progress Show in Iowa last week and at

numerous other field days around the Midwest this summer, and the biggest

thing we've heard is they need more yield from soybeans. We're proud we

will be able to deliver the first step-change in yield through our Roundup

Ready 2 Yield technology and that the launch of this product is right

around the corner."

Johnny Dodson, a soybean producer from Halls, Tenn. and first vice

president of the American Soybean Association applauded the news. "China's

approval of the Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean prior to the 2009 seed-buying

season is welcome news to U.S. soybean farmers," Dodson said. "Timely

overseas regulatory approvals are critical because growers have rapidly

adopted new biotech-enhanced seed varieties as they became available.

"Last year China purchased more than $4 billion worth of soybeans from

the United States, and as the standard of living continues to rise for the

Chinese, so will the demand for our soybeans. Roundup Ready 2 Yield

soybeans are one of the key technologies that are going to help U.S.

farmers meet the world's growing demand for food, feed and fuel made from

U.S. soybeans," he added.

Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans are the second generation of the popular

Roundup Ready(R) technology farmers have used in soybeans since 1996. This

product offers the same effective weed control, simplicity and flexibility

benefits of the Roundup Ready system and it significantly increases soybean

yield potential.

In four years of testing, Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans have

demonstrated a consistent yield advantage of 7 to 11 percent over Roundup

Ready soybeans. The four-year average yield increase of Roundup Ready 2

Yield over its first-generation counterpart was 9 percent.

Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans will be introduced on 1 to 2

million acres for the 2009 season as part of a controlled commercial

release, followed by a large-scale product launch of five to six million

acres scheduled for 2010.

Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans have been approved as safe for food and

feed in nine countries and regions -- the United States, Canada, Mexico,

Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and China. These

countries import more than 70 percent of U.S. soybean exports, providing

U.S. farmers access to a broad market. In addition to the approvals,

Monsanto recently announced the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has

issued a positive scientific opinion concluding Roundup Ready 2 Yield is

safe for import as food and feed.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based

solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food

quality. For more information on Monsanto, see: http://www.monsanto.com/.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS.

When Roundup Ready 2 Yield(TM) soybeans are made available for

commercial release and use, they will be subject to Monsanto Company's

comprehensive stewardship plans consistent with its Stewardship Policy for

Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity

Crops. Roundup Ready 2 Yield(TM) soybean seed and any product of a Roundup

Ready 2 Yield(TM) soybean seed or crop 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. Roundup Ready(R) crops contain genes that

confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup(R)

agricultural herbicides. Roundup agricultural herbicides will kill crops

that are not glyphosate tolerant. Roundup Ready(R) and Roundup Ready 2

Yield(TM) are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Deltapine(R) is a

Company.

SOURCE Monsanto Company

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