Monsanto Products Reach Regulatory Milestones in the European Union

ST. LOUIS, June 29, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monsanto Company (NYSE:
MON) announced today that experts at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
issued a favorable scientific opinion on Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 corn
product for cultivation and reconfirmed the safety of its YieldGard
insect-protected corn trait.

"These announcements from the European Union demonstrate a strong commitment
to science-based decision-making to allow farmers to choose biotech crops for
their farms," said Jerry Hjelle, regulatory lead for Monsanto. "These are
critical steps forward in affirming the safety and benefits of biotech crops."

EU Underscores Safety of YieldGard Insect-Protected Corn
The company welcomed the news that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
has once again underscored the safety of YieldGard insect-protected corn.

In its opinion, EFSA confirmed that the product, also known as MON 810, is
safe for cultivation, animal feed and human consumption.

The in-depth safety review of the YieldGard insect-protected corn borer
technology, which protects corn plants from the devastating effects of the
European corn borer insect, is required every 10 years. The original review
and approval of MON 810 in the European Union occurred in 1998. The extensive
scientific review considered all of the new safety studies conducted since
then.

"Millions of farmers across the globe have been cultivating YieldGard for well
over a decade, and its safety and benefits have been proven time and again,"
said Dusty Post, global corn technology lead for Monsanto. "The technology not
only helps to provide superior grain yields to farmers, but assists in
dramatically reducing or eliminating outright the need for pesticide
applications to control the corn borer pest."

YieldGard works by enabling corn plants to produce a protein called Cry1Ab
which comes from a naturally-occurring bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis,
commonly known as Bt. When the corn borer pest attacks and eats a portion of
the plant, the protein then adheres to the gut of the insect and causes it to
stop feeding. Prior to the discovery of YieldGard technology, corn borers were
commonly controlled by applying insecticide over the crop.

In 2008, farmers in seven EU Member States planted YieldGard corn borer
technology on the more than 107,000 hectares, or more than 264,000 acres.
Around the world, farmers use the technology to protect on-farm yields on more
than 22 million hectares or more than 50 million acres annually.

Following the positive opinion from EFSA, the European Commission is now
required to propose renewal of the existing MON 810 approval for cultivation
and all other uses, as for conventional maize, so that European farmers can
continue to have access to MON 810 hybrids in the future. This proposal will
be considered by the Regulatory Committee, comprising representatives of all
27 EU Member States.

Completion of the renewal process is also a condition for the lifting of
Member State bans on the cultivation of the MON 810 in countries including
France and Germany.

EFSA supports Roundup Ready 2 Corn for all uses including cultivation
Scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also confirmed that
herbicide-tolerant Roundup Ready 2 corn is as safe as conventional maize for
all uses, including cultivation, across the entire European Union.

The EFSA declaration follows an extensive four-year review of scientific
information on Monsanto's Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology, also known as
NK603. EFSA, working in conjunction with the 27 EU Member States, reviewed an
extensive volume of information on the product's safety, including a
comprehensive set of safety studies conducted according to EU and
international guidelines, and numerous peer-reviewed and published scientific
articles. Following the positive opinion from EFSA, the European Commission
can now draft a proposal for approval for consideration by the Commission's
Regulatory Committee.

"This step is an exciting milestone for European farmers and an important step
forward in the decision-making process around genetically-engineered crops in
the European Union," Post said. "For years this technology has been providing
valuable economic, agronomic and environmental benefits to millions of farmers
throughout the world; it's welcome news."

Corn farmers across the globe use the Roundup Ready technology on more than 30
million hectares (75 m acres) as a highly effective weed management option
that helps protect yields.

About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions
and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.
Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers
to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural
resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our
commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking
statements, such as statements concerning the company's future product
performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other
non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and
currently available information. However, since these statements are based on
factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance
and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such
differences include, among others: the success of the companies' research and
development activities; the costs of and the companies' abilities to access
and enforce intellectual property needed for the collaboration; the costs and
requirements of regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are
received; public acceptance of biotechnology products; and other risks and
factors detailed in the company's most recent periodic report to the SEC.
Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which
are current only as of the date of this presentation. The company disclaims
any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements
or any of the factors that may affect actual results.

Editor's Note: Roundup, Roundup Ready2 Yield and YieldGard are registered
trademarks of Monsanto Company.

CONTACT Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair (314-694-4490)
Jonathan Ramsay (32-2-776-7620)

SOURCE Monsanto Company

Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair, +1-314-694-4490, or Jonathan Ramsay, 32-2-776-7620,
both for Monsanto Company