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St. Louis, Missouri
June 4, 2001
Monsanto (NYSE: MON) has formed a wheat industry advisory
committee to provide advice and counsel on how best to bring forward biotechnology products in wheat. The committee
comprises a cross section of wheat industry participants from seed trade and farming through grain handling and exports to
flour milling and baking.
"Our goal in forming this committee is to ensure that we are holding an effective dialogue," said John Redd, global director
of Monsanto's wheat business. "Based on conversations with the Wheat Industry Joint Biotech Committee, we recognized
that setting up this committee could create the right two-way discussion. The wheat industry now has an opportunity to
look more closely at Monsanto's work on wheat biotechnology, and we have access to important advice," continued Redd.
"This has proved to be a good entry into exploratory discussion between Monsanto and the wheat industry. I'm pleased
they have organized an input process," said Ken Bertsch, North Dakota State Seed Commissioner, who attended the first
meeting.
The committee developed a draft charter to guide its work. The mission and objectives are as follows:
MISSION: To allow industry stakeholders to provide advice and counsel on the development of Monsanto's biotechnology
traits for the wheat industry.
OBJECTIVES:
- Provide an effective dialogue between Monsanto and participants in the wheat
industry.
- Advise Monsanto on the feasibility, strategy and standards for acceptance.
- Develop and review plans for potential biotechnology spring wheat grain handling protocols.
- Advise Monsanto on the stewardship of biotechnology spring wheat and the process for commercialization.
"Biotechnology has great potential for wheat. We are still several years from the first biotech wheat product, but now is the
time to listen to the whole industry and help make sure the technology brings benefits and not concerns," said Redd.
"The composition of the committee is deliberately flexible to ensure a broad range of views can be considered. We had an
excellent group of people at the first meeting and we look forward to future meetings. We are also thinking about how to get
broader input into the process from other key countries that import wheat, as well as from Canada," added Redd.
In November 2000, Monsanto President and Chief Executive Officer Hendrik A. Verfaillie announced the New Monsanto
Pledge, a five-point declaration that governs how Monsanto will behave as a new company. Under the "Dialogue" principle,
the pledge states: "We commit to involving our customers to help us make decisions about the development, use and
stewardship of new agricultural technologies."
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm
productivity and food quality. For more information on Monsanto, see: www.monsanto.com .
Note: The Wheat Industry Joint Biotech Committee includes members from The National Association of Wheat Growers,
U.S. Wheat Associates and The Wheat Export Trade Education Committee.
Company news release
N3562 |
