Henning, Illinois
September 23, 2003
Collaborative Effort Is
Expected To Bolster U.S. Ethanol Industry By Providing A
Multi-Million Dollar Investment Over The Next Two Years
Monsanto announced today
that it is teaming up with industry leaders -
General Motors and the
National Ethanol Vehicle
Coalition (NEVC) to deliver improved corn for the dry mill
ethanol industry, drive increased fuel ethanol demand and expand
fuel ethanol infrastructure to support that demand.
The collaborative effort is
expected to provide a major boost to the U.S. ethanol industry,
through Monsanto's Fuel Your ProfitsSM program, by
generating a multi-million dollar investment over the next two
years. This investment will be aimed at fueling ethanol profits
from corn planting to ethanol processing and beyond.
"Monsanto is honored to
collaborate with General Motors and NEVC, and supports their
commitment to ethanol," said Kerry Preete, lead of Monsanto's
U.S. Crop Production business. "We believe this collaboration is
a major step forward for the industry and feel that it will aid
in the development of rural economic growth."
The Fuel Your Profits program
takes advantage of Monsanto's research capabilities by promoting
improved corn hybrids for the dry mill ethanol industry offered
through the Processor Preferred® High Fermentable Corn (HFC)
brand. However, the Fuel Your Profits program is about more than
just providing products to the industry, Monsanto notes.
"We wanted to provide a
synergistic way that corn growers and ethanol plants could use
Monsanto's advancement in research while increasing ethanol
demand and expanding the ethanol fuel infrastructure in our
country," notes Amy Rutherford, Processor Preferred business
manager. The Fuel Your Profits program was designed as a new
way to increase the profitability potential of corn growers and
ethanol plants."
Participants in the Fuel Your
Profits program will be eligible for reward certificates off of
a negotiated purchase price of General Motors' E85 vehicles as
well as incentives to increase the number of E85 fuel pump
stations that are located throughout the country.
"In recent years, Monsanto's
bioenergy research program has yielded tremendous results.
Today, we are proud to offer growers corn hybrids through our
Processor Preferred High Fermentable Corn brand that have
improved ethanol yields for dry mill ethanol plants," says
Rutherford.
"Monsanto has responded to corn
growers' request for programs that provide value added
opportunities with Fuel Your Profits. This is a sound, sensible
way to help grow the ethanol industry," said National Corn
Growers Association President Fred Yoder. "The program offers a
science-based analysis by which the Processor Preferred system
determines a list of High Fermentable Corn. Ethanol plants and
corn growers can utilize this list to their mutual benefit."
"Profitable ethanol plants can
create significant and sustainable community benefits through
jobs, and more," Yoder said. "There are also thousands and
thousands of farmers invested in ethanol production cooperatives
that could potentially see higher returns on those investments
if those plants are more profitable."
According to John Gaydash,
General Motor's Director, Marketing of GM Fleet and Commercial
Operations, "General Motors has more than one million vehicles
on the road today capable of burning E85. We have demonstrated
our interest in increasing ethanol demand through our E85
awareness efforts with NEVC. Fuel Your Profits ties nicely with
these efforts."
Phil Lampert, Executive Director
of NEVC agrees. "NEVC is proud to be a part of the Fuel Your
Profits collaboration. We remain committed to advancing
ethanol, E85 use and the ethanol industry's infrastructure so
that our nation can utilize this renewable resource."
To date there are 17 dry mill
ethanol plants participating in the Fuel Your Profits program.
These plants are located throughout the country, and will
collectively consume grain from 1.5 million acres of the 2004
harvest.
"Any grower interested in the
Fuel Your Profits program should contact their local dry mill
ethanol plant to see if the plant is participating," Rutherford
recommends. "Nearly 60 brands will be offering Processor
Preferred High Fermentable Corn in their 2004 line-up, so I
would encourage growers to check with their local seed dealer to
learn more about the availability of these hybrids in their
area."
Through the Fuel Your Profits
collaboration, Monsanto will also provide ethanol plants access
to and use of a Near Infrared proprietary measurement tool
developed under ISO 17025 compliance by Monsanto's crop
analytics scientists. The tool will help plant managers and
growers understand which
corn hybrids yield more ethanol
in the dry mill process. Such information allows ethanol plants
to optimize efficiency and output by providing an indicator of
the ferment ability of corn at the front end of their process.
Grower enrollment in the Fuel
Your Profits program is currently underway, and ends February 1,
2004. For more information, growers should call their local
seed dealer, dry mill ethanol plant or 1-800-768-6387.
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a
leading global provider of technology-based solutions and
agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food
quality.
General Motors (NYSE: GM), the
world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and
markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global
automotive sales leader since 1931. GM employs about 355,000
people around the world.
The National Ethanol Vehicle
Coalition is the nation's primary advocate dedicated to the use
of 85 percent ethanol as a form of alternative transportation
fuel. It is a coalition of corn growers, ethanol producers and
auto manufacturers based in Jefferson City, Missouri. |