MEMPHIS, TN (March 1, 2013) – Monsanto Company today unveiled the future name of its triple-mode-of-action for herbicide tolerance cotton product – Bollgard II® XtendFlex™.  Bollgard II XtendFlex is the latest addition to the Roundup Ready® Xtend™ Crop System, which is designed to provide farmers with more consistent, flexible control of weeds – especially tough-to-manage and glyphosate-resistant weeds – to help maximize crop yield potential.

Pending regulatory approval, this advanced system is expected to be available to U.S. cotton farmers for the 2015 growing season. Monsanto expects to offer the trait in its Deltapine® brand seed and to select licensees.

Bollgard II XtendFlex will offer farmers the first-ever triple stack of herbicide-tolerant technologies in cotton, containing glyphosate-tolerant Genuity® Roundup Ready® Flex stacked with dicamba- and glufosinate-tolerance.  This gives farmers more choice and flexibility of pre- and post-emergence herbicide selection.  The triple-stack trait is expected to be available with Genuity® Bollgard II® to help deliver proven insect protection in addition to effective weed control.

“Bollgard II XtendFlex is built on existing technologies that farmers have grown to trust,” said Jordan Iverson, Monsanto’s Cotton Traits Marketing Manager. “Genuity Bollgard II provides the highest level of proven boll damage reduction, and 10 of the top 10 cotton varieties planted in the United States feature Genuity Roundup Ready Flex technology, according to U.S.D.A.’s 2012 data.  By adding dicamba and glufosinate tolerance to an already-proven trait package, Monsanto provides farmers with an incredibly effective tool to manage resistant weeds.”

Last March, Monsanto announced the first three components of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System:  Roundup Ready® 2 Xtend, Monsanto’s Genuity® soybean product that contains tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate;  an enhanced dicamba and glyphosate herbicide premix, to be branded as Roundup® Xtend;  and a stand-alone low-volatility dicamba formulation, to be branded as XtendiMax™. All of these products are pending regulatory approval.

The Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System will be an integral component of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready PLUS^TM Weed Management Solutions for soybean and cotton.  Roundup Ready PLUS offers weed management recommendations that are developed in conjunction with leading academics, agronomists and other industry partners for control of tough weeds.  The recommendations focus on multiple modes of action, including the use of pre-emergence applied residual herbicides in combinations with Roundup® WeatherMAX or Roundup PowerMAX.  Roundup Ready PLUS™ also offers financial incentives to help farmers offset the cost of using qualifying residual herbicides. 

More information on Bollgard II® XtendFlex™, the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System and Roundup Ready PLUS™ platform can be found at http://www.RoundupReadyPLUS.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 the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Certain statements contained in this presentation 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 and the previously announced SEC investigation; 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 periodic 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 presentation. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not an offer to sell Roundup® Xtend, XtendiMax™, Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ or Roundup Ready® 2 Xtend. These products are not yet registered or approved for sale or use anywhere in the United States.

Commercialization is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell, or a recommendation to use, any unregistered pesticide for any purpose whatsoever. It is a violation of federal law to promote or offer to sell an unregistered pesticide.

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. Genuity® Bollgard II® and Genuity® Roundup Ready® Flex 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.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state.

Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible.

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. Bollgard II®, Genuity Design®, Genuity®, Monsanto and Vine Design®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup®, XtendiMax™, and XtendFlex™ are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Deltapine® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners

©2013 Monsanto Company.