Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) said today that it is cooperating with the Illinois Attorney General's office to provide information regarding pricing and licensing of genetically modified seeds. The issues and background sought are similar to requests raised in various contexts by others in the past. Monsanto has fully and successfully presented explanation of its past technology and seed licensing practices in formal and informal circumstances, including court proceedings.

"We are responding to the Illinois Attorney General's subpoena and will cooperate fully," said Monsanto's General Counsel Charles W. Burson.

Monsanto's commercial approach is to broadly license its value-added technologies to hundreds of seed companies so that growers who wish to plant seeds with the company's innovations can choose the seed brands they prefer. "We firmly believe that Monsanto has and continues to compete fairly in establishing the value our innovations are bringing to our seed customers and to farmers," Burson said.

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.