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Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) reported on a year of firsts in research-and-development (R&D) advancements, highlighting some of the most substantial progress the company has seen in the time it has conducted biotechnology research. The company's announcement came as part of its first quarter 2008 fiscal year conference call.

Monsanto reported that 10 specific projects in its biotech R&D pipeline either advanced from one phase to the next or were added to the pipeline. The update also highlighted the company's first ever transition of four projects from Phase 2 to Phase 3, an important milestone that underscores the commercial viability and success of the projects.

"We are now seeing the deepest and most-compelling research pipeline to date," said Robb Fraley, Ph.D., chief technology officer and executive vice president for Monsanto. "This unprecedented progress and the sheer momentum of the pipeline reinforces our commitment to deliver high-quality products to farmers."

The presentation outlined several key measures of progress including several firsts:

• Ten projects either advanced phases or were added to the pipeline -- among the largest volume of project progress to date.
• Four projects transitioned from Phase 2 to Phase 3, where the probability of success moves above 50 percent and large scale regulatory and variety development work begins, reflecting the last major technical hurdles.
• First ever advancement of a multi-generational family: Second-generation drought tolerant corn advanced to Phase 2 and first-generation drought tolerant corn advanced to Phase 3, making it the industry's first drought project to move into the regulatory and commercial phase.
• Five projects were added to the pipeline this year, including SmartStax corn, soybean disease, second-generation high-oil soybeans, high-stearate soybeans, and high-oil corn.
• Two of three High Impact Technologies (HITs) advanced phases: Vistive III and drought tolerant corn. The movement, which was based on results from 2007 trials, advanced the technologies one step closer to commercial launch.

As part of today's overview, Fraley also noted the tremendous progress the company has made in its soybean trait portfolio. Roundup RReady2Yield, which is targeted to be introduced in 2009 and provides a 7-to-11 percent increase in soybean yield, will serve as the platform for future soybean traits.

Highlighted soybean projects:

• Four years of data continue to validate 7-to-11 percent yield advantage of Roundup RReady2Yield over comparable Roundup Ready soybeans, the first HIT that will reach commercialization.
• Insect-protected soybeans, Monsanto's first-ever trait developed exclusively for non-U.S. markets, advanced to Phase 3 after the technology continued to demonstrate excellent Roundup tolerance and
  effective protection against key lepidopteran pests.
• Dicamba-tolerant soybeans, which are designed to provide a new, unique mode of action for farmers, advanced to Phase 3 after demonstrating solid tolerance to dicamba applications. This technology is designed to provide soybean farmers with the most effective weed management system available when stacked with Roundup RReady2Yield.
• Vistive III, another HIT, not only advanced to Phase 3, but its progress over the last three years has been so significant that it supplanted Vistive II, making it the first ever trait to "leapfrog" another product in development.
• Higher-yielding soybeans showed positive performance. This year, more than 60 events were tested at 18 locations, with lead events showing strong yield advantages over the conventional soybean controls.

For the latest update on Monsanto's R&D pipeline, direct links to Fraley's presentation slides are archived on the company's Web site in the "Investor Information" section at: http://www.monsanto.com/investors/presentations.asp.

To listen to comments from Fraley and Steve Padgette, Monsanto's vice president of biotechnology, on the progress in the pipeline, please visit: http://www.monsanto.com/investors/pipeline/.

To learn more about Monsanto's pipeline, please visit: http://www.monsanto.com/products/pipeline.asp.

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

Note to editors: SmartStax, Roundup RReady2Yield and VISTIVE are trademarks of Monsanto Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

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