Monsanto joins carbon credit trading group

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Monsanto Co said on Tuesday it joined the Chicago Climate Exchange, a carbon-dioxide credit trading group, and agreed to reduce its emissions of the gas or buy emission offsets.

The company said it will reduce its direct carbon emissions by 6 percent below its 2000 levels by 2010 or buy the offsets.

It will also encourage farmer groups to discuss reducing carbon dioxide by practicing no-till agriculture.

(Reporting by Michael Erman; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)