St. Louis (Jan. 31, 2007) Monsanto’s Agronomy Center in Monmouth, Illinois, has received the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification – the agency’s top safety classification.

To earn the Star designation, a site must undergo a rigorous OSHA audit showing that its safety programs and practices reach high levels of excellence. The location must also have an accident rate that is below the rest of the industry. The entire site must meet all the safety criteria to be certified.

Emer OBroin, Monsanto’s Environmental, Safety and Health lead, presented the certification on January 9, 2007, to the employees and contractors at the site. Guests in attendance included OSHA Regional Director Nancy Mugavero and OSHA Assistant Regional Director Brian Bothast. Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant and North America Commercial Lead Carl Casale gave remarks during the ceremony.

Preparing for the three-year VPP process involved a lot of time and effort from people at the site, said Michele Kaywood, Monmouth’s safety coordinator. "The VPP process brought all site functions together working toward a common goal," she said. "It helped bring a common bond to all groups which has had benefits outside Environmental, Safety and Health."