Healthier foods for consumers and healthier incomes for growers are predicted with the announcement today by Monsanto Canada that Ontario growers will begin planting VISTIVE™ low-linolenic soybeans in 2007.

The soybeans will be the first in Canada to carry the VISTIVE brand, Monsanto's new line of products offering direct consumer benefits - specifically, enhanced food-grade oils.

"VISTIVE soybeans are heart-healthy for consumers," said Dan Wright, Eastern Canada trait marketing manager for Monsanto Canada, based in Guelph, Ontario. "With these varieties, processors will be able to reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids in a wide range of foods."

"The launch of VISTIVE soybeans is also great news for growers," Wright said. "VISTIVE varieties share the same high yields and agronomic strengths of all Monsanto soybeans, plus growers will earn a minimum 25-cent per bushel value share premium."

VISTIVE is the name of Monsanto's initiative to produce soybean varieties that offer direct consumer benefits. The first VISTIVE low-linolenic varieties for Ontario are bred to produce oil containing less than half the normal level of linolenic acid, thereby creating an opportunity for processors to produce food products with little or no trans fats.

"We're listening to consumers and to growers," said Mike McGuire, director, corn and soybean commercial business for Monsanto Canada. "Monsanto's dedication to world-class science then enables us to produce varieties that better meet the needs of both. Today's announcement is just a start. Monsanto is committed to producing Canadian soybean varieties with new VISTIVE advantages."

Jim Grey, general manager of the Ontario Soybean Growers said the availability of low-lin soybean varieties in Ontario such as VISTIVE gives Ontario producers another opportunity to receive higher returns on a premium specialty variety.

"OSG supports innovative initiatives such as low-lin soybeans, where Ontario soybean producers are able to play a role in providing consumers healthy food options," said Grey.

Jeff Schmalz, executive project director of Soy 20/20 said they are also pleased to support business development initiatives that have the potential to increase profits for Canadian farmers.

"The planting of VISTIVE soybeans with Monsanto's low-lin trait will eventually result in oils that do not require hydrogenation. There is a very significant food processing sector in Ontario that now will be able to utilize these new oils," said Schmalz.

Monsanto is committing to multi-year support of VISTIVE soybeans. For 2007, it will support the contract production of up to 10,000 acres of VISTIVE soybeans in Essex and Kent counties. At the same time, Monsanto is working with growers and processors to develop VISTIVE uses.

In Ontario, DEKALB^® and Hyland Seed are pursuing registration of VISTIVE varieties, and growers who want to learn about VISTIVE contract opportunities should contact the seed companies directly.

Because the low-linolenic feature was produced without biotechnology, it does not need to be approved as a novel trait. The first generation of VISTIVE soybeans contains three per cent linolenic acid in its oil compared to eight per cent in normal soybeans. High levels of linolenic acid reduce shelf-life and also make soybean oil a liquid at room temperature. Processors have traditionally hydrogenated soybean oil in order to reduce the level of linolenic acid, but the hydrogenation process creates trans fats.

Trans fats are linked to heart disease because they lower blood levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and raise levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Health Canada requires processors to list trans fat content in the Nutrition Facts panels on most labels.

"Monsanto is proud to help Ontario soybean growers be at the forefront of meeting the changing needs of consumers," Wright said. "Growers will not have to trade off yield or agronomics for this premium opportunity."

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