July 24, 2007, St. Louis -- Monsanto is partnering with the National Urban League (NUL), helping sponsor its conference being held in St. Louis July 25 - 28. Monsanto is specifically sponsoring the welcome reception on July 25 and the webcast of the entire conference. Cheryl Morley, Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy, will welcome league attendees at the reception, while the webcast will be introduced with a taped message from Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant. Monsanto is also maintaining an exhibitor booth and a booth at the conference’s career fair.

Established in 1910, the Urban League is the United States’ oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream.

“We’ve had a long relationship with the Urban League in St. Louis,” said Mike Demarco, Director of Corporate Strategy and member of the Urban League’s St. Louis Board of Directors. “We’ve sponsored a science education program for a league Head Start program, contributed computer equipment to their Business Training Center, partnered to deliver Thanksgiving meals, served on their Board of Directors and various committees. We have long shared and supported the league’s commitment to inclusion and diversity. This sponsorship of the national conference will help deepen our relationship.”

One highlight of the webcast will be presentations from the candidates for U.S. President scheduled for 8:30 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to noon (Central Daylight Time) on Friday, July 27. The playback, including the introduction by Grant, will be available for the next year on the league’s Web site,  http://www.broadcasturban.net/webcast/nul2007/. An article by NUL President and Chief Executive Marc Morial on the candidates’ presentations at the conference was published in Sunday’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and can be viewed at Black, White?...and Green.