ST. LOUIS, June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) today announced that the company has submitted documents and extensive research data for SmartStax™, a new insect-protection and weed control platform in corn, to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval.

With the submission, SmartStax becomes the first-ever stacked product with multiple effective genes against both lepidopteran and corn rootworm pests to reach this important regulatory milestone. The product remains on track for commercial launch in 2010 pending appropriate regulatory approvals. SmartStax features multiple traits designed to control corn insect pests both above and below ground while offering farmers two choices of herbicide tolerance in one seed.

Specifically, the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) proteins at work in SmartStax deliver multiple modes of actions to control both above and below ground pests; enabling an opportunity to lower corn refuge acres. The SmartStax platform is anticipated to be the first set of technologies to enable such a reduction in corn refuge for both above and below ground pests. This game-changing platform is expected to have a market opportunity that could top more than 105 million acres globally, with 60-to-65 million acres in the United States alone.

Monsanto has submitted a request to the EPA to reduce refuge requirements for SmartStax to 5 percent in the northern Corn Belt and 20 percent in southern states where cotton is planted.

"The technologies at work in SmartStax will provide increased value on the farm through more thorough control of insects and weeds and from the significant upside potential through refuge reduction," said Carl Casale, executive vice president, strategy and operations, Monsanto Company. "All totaled, we estimate the SmartStax hybrid system could provide an estimated yield benefit of an additional 4 to 10 percent on the farm."

Currently corn growers are required to plant "structured refuges" or plots of corn that do not use in-plant protection technology near corn acres that do. The percentage of refuge acres varies based on the specific geography, but in general has been set at 50 percent in cotton-growing regions of the United States and 20 percent in the rest of the Northern Corn Belt.

Research conducted by leading scientists at academic institutions around the United States shows the use of dual protein technologies, like those contained in SmartStax, could enable a refuge reduction while maintaining long-term effectiveness.

Dr. Marlin E. Rice, professor of entomology at Iowa State University said, "SmartStax, which combines YieldGard VT Triple PRO and Herculex XTRA technologies, will provide corn growers with dual-protein activity against corn rootworms, thereby offering the broadest spectrum of insect control available and a decreased probability of the development of insect resistance."

Casale added, "In a time when the world is looking for agriculture to produce more, reducing the need for refuge acres would represent a win for the grain markets and a potentially significant financial gain for farmers."

SmartStax is co-developed with Dow AgroSciences and combines technologies from both companies for multiple modes-of-action against insects and tolerance to two herbicides in a single seed. Both companies have now filed submissions for SmartStax in Japan and the United States to support commercial launch. Pending approval from various international regulatory authorities, SmartStax is on track to become commercially available in 2010 in the United States.

  SmartStax will provide coverage in the following areas:

  -- Above-ground insect control: Dow's Herculex® I technology with
     Monsanto's second-generation, two-gene lepidopteran control technology
     called YieldGard® VT PRO, SmartStax will provide protection against
     European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, corn earworm, fall
     armyworm, western bean cutworm, and black cutworm;
  -- Below-ground insect control: Combining Dow AgroSciences' Herculex® RW
     technology and Monsanto's YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2 technology,
     SmartStax will provide protection against Western, Northern and Mexican
     corn rootworms; and,
  -- Weed control: Bringing together Monsanto's Roundup Ready® 2
     technology with Liberty Link® herbicide tolerance, SmartStax will
     offer broad spectrum weed and grass control with the option of two
     different modes-of-action.

At launch, the SmartStax technology platform will be made broadly available across Monsanto's three corn seed channels which include leading national brands, such as DEKALB, regional brands in the company's American Seeds, Inc., or ASI and license partners through Corn States seed company. The platform will also serve as the entry point for future advanced technologies in corn, such as water stress tolerance and nitrogen efficiency, among others.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto is an agriculture company. The company is a leading provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto is committed to investing in products that can make a difference for its farmer customers and the land they farm. The company uses plant breeding, plant biotechnology and other applications of modern science to support its commitment to agriculture and the farmers that feed, clothe and fuel our growing world. For more information on Monsanto, see http://www.monsanto.com/.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this release 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; 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 release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

Note to editor: DEKALB, SmartStax, Roundup Ready, YieldGard VT and YieldGard VT PRO are trademarks of Monsanto Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

® Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLCHERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred.

® Liberty Link is a registered trademark owned by Bayer CropScience.

SOURCE: Monsanto Company

CONTACT: Lee Quarles, +1-314-694-2330

Web site: http://www.monsanto.com/

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