ST. LOUIS (Dec. 13, 2006) Monsanto is pleased to announce a partnership between Monsanto and the Council of 1890 land-grant universities. As part of the program, twenty-seven students from eight different universities recently attended a Student Leadership Meeting hosted by Monsanto in St. Louis, Missouri. Steve Mizell, Global Human Resources lead, describes the new partnership between Monsanto and universities as “an additional vehicle to support building the broadest, deepest and most diverse talent pipeline possible.”

The partnership has several goals including: hosting leadership meetings to develop internship opportunities for students; developing collaborative research opportunities; and working with 1890 universities to enhance curriculum.

An 1890 land-grant college or university is an institution that has been designated by its state legislature or Congress to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. The 1890 land-grant universities are historically black institutions. The original mission of these institutions, as set forth in the first Morrill Act, was to teach agriculture, military tactics and the mechanic arts as well as classical studies so that members of the working classes could obtain a liberal, practical education.

The partnership is a “win-win” according to Hazell Reed, the senior administrator for Research and Federal Relations at Delaware State University. “The partnership gives students insight into how a large agri-business like Monsanto operates,” he said, “and it exposes them to new experiences and employment opportunities. In addition, the partnership will enhance the diversity of the workforce at Monsanto.”

During the leadership meeting, students participated in interviews for Monsanto internship possibilities. This year the students were interviewing for sales intern positions, but the future plan of the partnership is to expand to include other parts of the Monsanto organization.

The leadership meeting was very successful, according to Jack Nesbitt, University Relations lead. “We are looking forward to building a deep relationship with the 1890s council,” he said. “The event went very well, and I was delighted with the talent level of the students.”

Students were selected to attend the meeting by their university advisers. Jennie Powell, a general ag major from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, was excited when her adviser told her about the leadership meeting and internship possibility. “The meeting is a great opportunity to meet fellow students,” said Powell. “It is also a chance to learn more about Monsanto and its role in agriculture.

”Today, there are 18 1890 land-grant universities in the United States, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. These universities continue to successfully reach underserved populations and produce the greatest number of degrees awarded to African-Americans in this country.