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others to develop a system that was fair<br />
to all. Brazilian growers realized that they<br />
needed the latest technologies to stay<br />
competitive in the world market. Brazilian<br />
industry representatives also realized that<br />
<strong>Monsanto</strong> and other technology and seed<br />
breeding companies would have no incentive<br />
to invest in improved germplasm and<br />
biotechnology traits if they were unable<br />
to recover a reasonable price for the<br />
value created.<br />
In its first year, the system has worked well.<br />
“This was a difficult situation and the new<br />
approach wouldn’t have worked without<br />
the cooperation of many involved parties,”<br />
said Dennis Plummer, <strong>Monsanto</strong>’s leader<br />
on this project. “The Pledge values really<br />
came into play — from extensive dialogue<br />
with all involved to transparency in our<br />
motives and plans, to respect for the<br />
organizations we were working with, taking<br />
ownership for the results and, in the end,<br />
creating benefits for growers. It all came<br />
together in a viable system which worked<br />
for all parties.”<br />
<strong>Monsanto</strong> Pledge Award Winner<br />
<strong>Roundup</strong> <strong>Ready</strong> Soybean<br />
Ship Tracking System<br />
<strong>Roundup</strong> <strong>Ready</strong> soybeans are gaining popularity with<br />
farmers in South America, especially in Brazil, where<br />
the sale of transgenic seed is illegal under Brazilian<br />
law and unlicensed by <strong>Monsanto</strong>. Growers there planted<br />
thousands of hectares of <strong>Roundup</strong> <strong>Ready</strong> soybeans.<br />
Brazilian farmers gained the yield, weed control, and<br />
environmental benefits of the enhanced seeds without<br />
reimbursing <strong>Monsanto</strong> for the technology.<br />
As part of the plan to deal with the situation, <strong>Monsanto</strong><br />
established the <strong>Roundup</strong> <strong>Ready</strong> Soybean Ship Tracking<br />
System Team. The team devised a way to identify and<br />
track oilseed ships leaving Brazil for countries where<br />
<strong>Monsanto</strong>’s patent rights could be enforced. Brazil has<br />
provisionally allowed the growth and harvest of <strong>Roundup</strong><br />
<strong>Ready</strong> soybeans, because <strong>Roundup</strong> <strong>Ready</strong> soybeans<br />
provide great benefits to growers and the environment,<br />
and because <strong>Monsanto</strong> can monitor their use. In addition,<br />
more than 300 Brazilian grain traders, elevator owners,<br />
and cooperatives have agreed to look for the special<br />
<strong>Monsanto</strong> traits in the soybeans delivered to them by<br />
growers and to collect a royalty for the benefits growers<br />
receive from the technology.<br />
{ MONSANTO COMPANY 2004 PLEDGE REPORT: PAGES 26-27 }
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