In a presentation to investors today,
Monsanto Company's
(NYSE: MON) Chief Technology Officer Robert T. Fraley,
Ph.D., will discuss how the company's significant experience
with product development, the regulatory environment, and
commercial strategy in biotechnology has given Monsanto a
leadership position in guiding next-generation products to
commercial reality.
Fraley is delivering a
presentation as a part of the 15th Annual Chemical
Conference sponsored by Smith Barney Citigroup in New York.
"There's an experience
curve to agricultural innovation, whether it's breeding or
biotechnology," said Fraley. "From the initial laboratory
breakthrough to getting the right seed varieties in the
right bags for farmers, there is a complex, interwoven
process."
"With the success of the
first round of biotechnology traits, we've established that
we can succeed with that whole process -- something we
believe is a terrific advantage in making decisions about
how we invest in the next generation of products."
Monsanto's significant
experience creates a unique technology acumen that is
helping the company move more products through its
research-and-development pipeline, says Fraley. With its
experience base, Monsanto is already working on
second-generation products, like Roundup Ready Flex cotton;
consumer-benefit-oriented products, like VISTIVE
low-linolenic soybeans and omega-3 fortified oilseeds; and
drought-tolerant corn, soybeans and cotton.
"This year we saw a
significant amount of projects move from the lab to the
field," said Fraley. "Things that might have been ideas just
a couple of years ago are being field tested this year,
which we believe demonstrates that our first-generation
experience gives us valuable second-generation know-how."
Fraley will deliver a
report on 2004 field trial results and progress across its
product pipeline as a part of Monsanto's first-quarter
fiscal year 2005 earnings report on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005.
VISTIVE and Roundup
Ready are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC.