Roundup Ready - Monsanto

One way that Monsanto is reaching out to
the changing U.S. agricultural community
is through a project with the Future Farmers
of America (FFA). Through this collaboration,
future agricultural leaders are learning that
cultural awareness will help them become
more successful. Monsanto has worked
with the FFA to develop educational materials
about the relevance of diversity in agriculture.
The company also sponsors FFA’s “H.O.
Sargent Award,” which recognizes FFA
Monsanto Pledge Award Winner
Dissemination of Information
members, community members, and
teachers who are active in promoting
diversity in agricultural education.
A diverse, inclusive environment at
Monsanto fosters participation and
collaboration, and it gives Monsanto
a competitive advantage in the field.
Furthermore, it is a matter of respect for
our employees and our communities.
With the introduction of biotechnology, Monsanto set out to bring new technology
to agriculture on a global scale. In the process, the company was poised to
change substantially the way food and fiber are produced. After quick acceptance
in the United States and opposition in some other parts of the world, the
company realized that it needed to listen better and to communicate more
effectively. In 1999, Monsanto people began a proactive, cross-functional effort to promote
broader understanding and acceptance of biotechnology by sharing information on the company’s
technologies and research transparently.
One result has been a computerized knowledge base that supports specialized biotechnology
information sites. The knowledge base, updated daily, contains more than 60,000 documents.
These include daily news stories, scientific papers, presentation materials, analyses, third-party
newsletters, safety reports, technical brochures, and information about special-interest Web sites.
Information provided on these sites makes Monsanto people more informed on biotechnology
issues so that they can better answer public questions about biotechnology. In addition, relevant
information is available to other stakeholders, such as external scientists, academics, key
contacts in the food and feed chain, educators, and the public. AgSymbion is one of these
focused Web sites. It has become a core element in Monsanto’s university and scientific
outreach programs. More than 1,100 people can access AgSymbion, many of them leading
experts in biotechnology.
The knowledge base helps to fulfill Monsanto’s pledge to increase transparency. In addition to
Monsanto employees, the scientific, agricultural, academic, and local communities are more
informed about the safety and benefits of Monsanto’s research and products because of this
commitment to Internet-based information sharing.
{ MONSANTO COMPANY 2004 PLEDGE REPORT: PAGES 42-43 }