Super Eco

Photo credit: ryan griffis, flickr

Monsanto is the world's leading producer of genetically engineered seeds, and its agricultural pesticide, Roundup, which its seeds are typically engineered to resist. Its corn, cotton, soybean and canola seeds are responsible for most of the world's production of these crops.

Monsanto was founded in 1901 to produce the artificial sweetener saccharine, by John F. Queeny, and named after his wife, Olga Monsanto Queeny. It wasn't until 1945 that the company began producing agricultural chemicals, and in 1964, the first Western-themed product was introduced: Ramrod herbicide. It would be followed by "Lasso," and, in 1976, "Roundup." In 1981, the company's direction would shift considerably, as "biotechnology is firmly established as Monsanto's strategic research focus." Over the ensuing 20 years, the company would introduce many genetically-modified products and acquire several companies, including the Jacob Hartz Seed Co., a producer of soybean seed.

In 1996, Monsanto revolutionized the agricultural world by introducing "Roundup-ready" soybean seed, engineered to resist the application of Roundup and other glysophate-based herbicides. In 2000-2002 the company went through a somewhat complex merger-divestiture process in which it combined with another company, changed its name to Pharmacia, and subsequently spun off the agricultural divisions of both companies to a new, separate Monsanto. Pharmacia is now a subsidiary of Pfizer.

Notable Eco Activity

Monsanto is the symbol for genetically engineered seeds, and is the major source of GMO corn and soybean seeds the world over. In addition, Monsanto developed and marketed the bovine growth hormone that consumers concerned with the proliferation of antibiotics, and development of super-resistant bacteria, seek to avoid. The company is also famous for its aggressive lawsuits and patenting of its seeds; in one of its lawsuits in Canada, it sued a farmer for the patented seeds he said were carried by the wind to his field. Monsanto won the suit, much to the dismay of farmers who challenge their right to save seeds and protect their farmland from genetically modified seeds. Monsanto has also sued dozens of farmers whose seed "volunteered," or re-sprouted the next year in their fields without intervention by the farmers.

In another widely-covered instance, Monsanto sued small dairies who were claiming their milk was "hormone-free" or "rBGH-free," stating that the labeling "duped" consumers. After months, Monsanto and the dairies compromised with the wording "FDA states: No significant difference in milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormones." In 2008, the company divested itself of the bovine hormone business.

• Monsanto Details

  • Year Founded

    1901

  • Founded By

    Unavailable

  • Green Products?

    Unavailable

  • Hazardous Products?

    Yes

  • Sector

    Unavailable

  • Industry

    Unavailable

  • Help Line

    (314) 694-1000

  • Help Address

    http://www.monsanto.com/who_we_are/contact_us.asp

  • Fax Number

    Unavailable

  • Website

    http://www.monsanto.com/

  • Key Execs

    Unavailable

  • Competitors

    Unavailable

  
  

• Monsanto Locations

  • Headquarters

    800 N. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63167

  • Mail Address

    800 N. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63167

  • Operates In

    Unavailable

  • Manufacturing

    Unavailable

  
  

• Monsanto Financial Information

  • Company Type

    C corporation

  • Yearly Revenue

    $8.563 billion

  • Traded On

    Unavailable

  • Symbols

    MON