One of the most anticipated soybean product introductions is now one step closer to farmers’ fields.

Monsanto Company announced today that its next-generation soybean technology, Roundup RReady2Yield™ soybeans, has completed the regulatory process in both the United States and Canada. This marks an important step towards making agriculture’s first new soybean technology developed in more than a decade a reality. It also marks an important building block for the future introduction of soybean technologies for U.S. soybean farmers.

“We believe this next-generation soybean technology represents a new opportunity for us to set the bar higher while continuing to deliver new value to farmers,” said Robb Fraley, chief technology officer and executive vice president. “Roundup RReady2Yield is certainly a centerpiece technology within our soybean pipeline and one that we’re looking forward to delivering to U.S. soybean farmers.”

The Roundup RReady2Yield soybean technology represents a next-generation upgrade of the company’s popular Roundup Ready soybean technology. Three years of field comparisons have demonstrated that the technology can deliver a yield advantage of 7 to 11 percent over its first-generation Roundup Ready counterpart.

Technology set as key building block for next-generation soybean portfolio

Roundup RReady2Yield soybean technology also represents an important base from which its portfolio of next-generation technologies in soybeans - including enhanced oil products and higher yielding traits. Research in both breeding and biotechnology, including technologies like Roundup RReady2Yield, highlights one way the company is supporting farmers meet the world’s growing demand for food, feed and fuel.

“Our job is to deliver innovation to the farm,” said Fraley. “We anticipate that farmers who make the investment in Roundup RReady2Yield are getting more than just the benefits of this technology, they’re gaining experience with the building block on which our platform of new soybean technologies will be built,” said Fraley.

Introduction of its first HIT technology to U.S. marketplace

Roundup RReady2Yield soybeans are one of several technologies designated as a High Impact Technology (HIT) within its research and development (R&D) pipeline. Projects in the HIT program are targeted for larger-acre commercial launches in high-yielding seed offerings. This approach is expected to enable more farmers to access the technology in its first full commercial launch year.

Monsanto will continue to move aggressively into advanced pre-commercial development to prepare for a large-acre launch consistent with the HIT concept. They are working to obtain regulatory approvals in key export markets around the world. Beginning in the spring of 2006, they made 22 regulatory submissions in 15 countries. These submissions are in varying stages of technical review, and the company is seeing significant progress to date in countries including Japan, China and the European Union. Monsanto is focused on obtaining these approvals and is working with the soybean industry to support a launch prior to the end of the decade.

“We are working closely with the soybean industry to ensure that U.S. farmers have broad markets for Roundup RReady2Yield once we introduce this technology,” Fraley said.

Roundup Ready soybeans were first introduced to U.S. soybean farmers in 1996. Today, the in-the-seed technology is the most widely used biotech trait allowing farmers throughout the world to simplify their weed control practices.

Since its introduction, the Roundup Ready system has enabled farmers to adopt conservation tillage practices, including no-till, which helps farmers reduce or eliminate tilling as a practice to control weeds. The practice has been demonstrated to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the environment, benefit wildlife and protect streams from sedimentation.