Press Releases

Monsanto Company has acquired control of Sementes Agroceres S.A., the leading seed corn company in Brazil.

Founded in 1945, Agroceres has approximately 30 percent of the seed corn market in Brazil, one of the top four seed corn markets in the world. The company is fully integrated in seed corn, sorghum and vegetable seeds, and has a particularly strong base in tropical and subtropical germplasm.

"Agroceres is another important addition to our global position in seed," said Hendrik A. Verfaillie, president of Monsanto. "It strengthens our presence in a key market, and holds the potential for future sales in markets outside Brazil. We’re delighted to be affiliated with a company that is an industry leader in the technological advances so important to this business."

"We’re excited to become the leading player in the Brazilian corn seed market," Antonio C. Queiroz, President of Monsanto Brazil, said. "Agroceres will enable us to bring our biotechnology to the Brazilian farmers. This will increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector as a whole and thereby improve the export potential of the country."

Agroceres also has animal and feed businesses. Together with current management, Monsanto has decided that these businesses are best served with a sale to the current management.

Monsanto is a global leader in life sciences, dedicated to improving the quality of food, nutrition and health. The company also is a leader in agricultural biotechnology and in the development and marketing of improved food and fiber crops.

For additional information, please contact:

Lori J. Fisher
(314) 694-8535
Lori.J.Fisher@monsanto.com

Rodrigo Almeida
Monsanto do Brasil
55-11-817-6148
rlalme@monsanto.com

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