Monsanto.com agricultural company innovation and technology to help farmers
Contents
Monsanto
Monsanto produces numerous agricultural products to assist farmers with raising the yield of their crops to increase profits. Monsanto’s corn seeds enable farmers to double the growth rate of their crops, and have plans to double it again in the next few decades. Monsanto produces a line of herbicides for use with corn crops, including the Roundup line of herbicides. The company is also involved in animal agriculture, with products for every major animal product, including pork, beef and dairy. Monsanto produces a line of bovine hormones to increase milk production to assist farmers with their milk yields to increase dairy profits.
Website
The Monsanto website offers detailed information about the corn hybrids made by the company and what each hybrid can do for corn farmers. It also details to uses of each of the targeted herbicides. The high-tech seeds created by Monsanto are detailed, as is a detailed history of each of herbicides and major seed varieties.
Monsanto and 4-H
The nationwide 4-H program is aided by Monsanto in several ways. The almost 7 million children participating in 4-H each year benefit from the biotechnology education provided by Monsanto. The company also heads a program to bring recognition to the volunteers of 4-H and actively encourages 4-H volunteerism.
Company History
The original company began in 1901 and sold saccharine. By 1945, Monsanto began producing agricultural products. In the 60’s and 70’s the company began concentrating on its herbicides, creating more of them to accomplish different agricultural goals. In the 80’s the company began genetically modifying its seed and has continued to produce new seed technologies that combine seed with a variety of herbicides. In the 90’s, Monsanto began producing the bovine growth hormone Posilac in order to help farmers get more milk from each dairy cow. Monsanto is now a multinational conglomerate that incorporates several merged companies with different agricultural focuses.
Controversy
Several groups have formed to protest the genetically engineered seed that have become the hallmark of the company. In addition, several countries have banned the import of their seeds and any other genetically modified food products. The company’s Congressional lobbying techniques have also been under fire for years and the company is often accused of using strong-arm tactics to encourage farmers to use their seed. The seed varieties produced by Monsanto are contractually to be used only for one growing season, and the company prosecutes any farmer using them for more than one season, leading to more controversy. Monsanto maintains a page on their website for farmers to turn in anyone attempting to use the seed for more than one season.
Ethanol
Monsanto has recently become involved in the promotion of ethanol, a bio-fuel that has the potential to replace fossil fuels. The company maintains a presence at each year’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop along with other ethanol experts and researchers from around the world. The higher yields of corn made possible with Monsanto corn seeds have the potential to make the production of ethanol a more viable fuel source.
Languages
English
Address
- 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd
- St. Louis MO 63167 US
Additional Information
Related Domains
External Links
- Stock: MON
- Alexa: Monsanto.com
References
- 1) Wikipedia
- 2) Organic Consumers
- 3) Source Watch
