New Delhi, February 20, 2009: Monsanto today announced the launch of Project SHARE (Sustainable Harvest - Agriculture, Resources, Environment) – a sustainable yield initiative to improve farmer lives in India, as part of its global three-point commitment to help increase global food production in the face of growing demand, limited natural resources and a changing climate. It has pledged to work in new partnerships with other businesses, citizen groups and Governments to meet one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

Project SHARE, a pilot project in association with NGO ISAP (Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals), aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of 10,000 small-marginal cotton and corn farmers in 1100 villages across three States within four years by increasing their crop productivity. Farming will be sustainable through access to higher-yielding seeds and agriculture inputs; training and education on best agronomic practices; formation of farmer groups to enable collective bargaining power; increased exposure to Krishi Vigyan Kendras, State Agriculture Universities, and modern technology demonstration units; creation of self-help groups (SHGs) for beneficiary household women; and better market linkages.

Experts say the global population will touch nine billion and demand for food is expected to double by 2050. It will be necessary to produce as much food between now and 2050 as was produced in the last 10,000 years. The Govt. of India estimates that India’s population will touch 1.3 billion by 2017 and that we may be short of 14 million MT of food grains.

Concern over climate change has also increased. The eight warmest years on record have all occurred in the last decade. As agriculture uses 70 per cent of the world’s fresh water and more than half of the habitable land, much of the production increase must come from increased crop yields. According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 60 per cent of the world’s hungry are resource-poor farmers; another 20 per cent are landless and rely exclusively on agriculture for their livelihood; and the World Bank estimates that approx. 900 million rural people live on less than $1 a day.

“Agriculture intersects the toughest challenges we face on the planet, said Jerry Steiner, Executive Vice President, Monsanto Company. “We must meet the needs for increased food, fiber and energy while protecting the environment. The quality of life of the world’s one billion farmers is a critical part of the equation. As an agricultural company focused on increasing crop yields and the world’s largest investor in agriculture research, we will produce more, conserve more, and improve farmer lives. Project SHARE is part of our commitment in India.”

Monsanto’s worldwide three-point commitment to growing yields sustainably includes:

1. Develop better seeds – Monsanto will double yield in its three core crops of corn, soybeans and cotton by 2030, compared to a base year of 2000 in countries where farmers have access to current and anticipated new seed choices offered by the company. The Company will also establish a $10 million grant administered by a panel of world experts to accelerate breakthrough public sector research in wheat and rice yield. Further details on this program will be announced in the coming months.
2. Conserve resources – Develop seeds that will reduce by one-third the amount of key resources like land, energy, fertilizer and water required to grow crops by the year 2030. The Company will also undertake a series of partnerships to address key environmental issues.
3. Help improve farmers’ lives – The Company will help improve the lives of farmers, including an additional five million people in resource-poor farm families by 2020. In India, for example, the use of Bollgard insect-protected cotton has increased yields by more than 50 per cent and farmer incomes by Rs. 9,705 (US$ 249) per acre, according to third-party studies.

Among other global partnerships, Monsanto will also work with public institutions to develop products for non-commercial crops, including cassava, cowpea and papaya that are important in some world areas.

“Project SHARE will make farming sustainable and improve the lives of 10,000 cotton and corn farmers in 1100 villages across three states. Monsanto has been partnering with India’s farmers for over four decades and we will continue our commitment to improve crop productivity and helping make India a global leader in agriculture,” said Sekhar Natarajan, India Region Lead, Monsanto. “We believe it will take the power of partnerships by a diverse group of organizations with many points of view to work together and take action to address the daunting challenges facing us all.”

“Project SHARE is a joint effort by Monsanto and ISAP to demonstrate a sustainable model to impact the lives of 10,000 farmers across three states. The model shall provide small and marginal farmers access to technology, better inputs, agronomic practices, and market linkages to improve farm productivity, thereby making farming a viable proposition.” said Rajiv Dar, CEO, NGO ISAP (Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals).

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 commitments, please visit www.producemoreconservemore.com.

Monsanto is a leading agriculture company that is focused on enhancing farm productivity by high-yielding seeds and traits, and agricultural productivity. We apply innovation and technology to help farmers around the world produce more, conserve more and grow yield sustainably so they can be successful, produce healthier foods, better animal feeds and more fiber, while also reducing agriculture's impact on our environment.

Monsanto invests more than US$2.6 million a day on R&D in breeding and biotechnology to discover and deliver innovative, high-yielding technologies that help farmers increase ag productivity and succeed, making it the world’s largest investor in agricultural research in the area of seeds and traits.

Monsanto has been partnering with India and its farmers for over four decades, and is focused on the following core businesses of cotton, corn, fruit and vegetable seeds, and Roundup herbicide. We are committed to enable the Indian farmer to produce more, conserve more, and improve their lives, and be a part of India’s growth. In India, the company has contributed Rs. 17+ crores since 2001 to community development initiatives in the areas of human rights, sustainable agriculture, education, healthcare, and disaster rehabilitation.

Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP)

ISAP is a major network of agriculture and allied sector professionals in India. In pursuance of its vision, of instilling economic security and stability among farming community, particularly small and marginal farmers through holistic development of agriculture and rural sector, ISAP has acquired rich experience of working with farmers over the years. ISAP has successfully carried out several assignments in the area of agriculture, rural and social development, market linkages, capacity building and extension services.

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Christopher Samuel / Michelle D’Souza                                                                          Geetanjali Lahiri

Monsanto India                                                                                                                    IPAN PR Agency

+91 99675 82255 / 99870 45539                                                                                    +91 99715 77890

christopher.samuel@monsanto.com /                                                                            geetanjali.lahiri@ipan.com

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