St. Louis, Missouri
January 12, 2006
Monsanto Company and
Archer Daniels Midland Company
(ADM) announced today that ADM will process Monsanto's VISTIVE™
low-linolenic soybeans in 2006 at its facility in Frankfort,
Indiana, and will market the low-linolenic soybean oil for use
by the food industry. VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans will reduce
the need for partial hydrogenation of soybean oil, helping food
companies reduce the presence of trans fatty acids (trans fats)
in their products.
For the 2006 growing season,
ADM will be contracting with growers in Indiana for up to 40,000
acres of VISTIVE soybean production. ADM will pay a premium to
producers who grow VISTIVE soybeans under contract. Then it will
crush and sell the processed soybean oil to food companies.
VISTIVE soybeans, developed
through conventional breeding, contain less than three percent
linolenic acid as compared to the typical eight percent level
found in traditional soybeans. The result is a more stable
soybean oil, with less need for hydrogenation. Because soybeans
with a lower linolenic acid level reduce the need for partial
hydrogenation, their application in processed soybean oils will
reduce the presence of trans fats in processed soybean oil.
The development of VISTIVE is
significant because, as of January 1, 2006, all food products
and dietary supplements bearing a nutritional facts panel that
are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and sold
in the United States are required to list trans fat content.
Kellogg Company, for instance, recently announced that it will
use oil from VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans as part of a major
initiative to reduce or eliminate trans fats in a number of its
products.
"Low-linolenic soybean oil
developed from VISTIVE soybeans will be a valuable addition to
ADM's NovaLipidTM portfolio of zero/low trans fat products,"
stated Tedd Kruse, ADM Vice President-North American Food Oils.
"As the essential link between farmers and food manufacturers,
ADM is pleased to work with American farmers to create
additional value for their products while at the same time
providing food manufacturers with healthier ingredients."
NovaLipid products are ADM's
line of zero/low trans fat shortenings, margarines and oils. The
NovaLipid portfolio includes naturally stable oils, tropical
fats and oils, blended oils, and enzyme interesterified
shortenings and margarines to provide alternatives in various
food applications, including baking, confectionery, snack,
frying and cereal products. The line was developed in 2003 in
response to customer and consumer demand for healthier fats and
oils.
"We contracted all available
VISTIVE soybeans in 2005, so we know that this product is in
demand. We are very pleased to partner with an industry leader
like ADM to ensure a successful expansion of VISTIVE soybeans in
2006," said Ernesto Fajardo, Vice President of U.S. Crop
Production for Monsanto. "VISTIVE not only supports growing
consumer demand for healthier foods, but also represents an
important investment in the future success of the U.S. soybean
industry. In addition, this agreement expands the growing area
for VISTIVE, giving more farmers the opportunity to grow this
value-added soybean."
Monsanto expects that VISTIVE
soybeans will be grown on nearly 500,000 acres in 2006,
primarily in Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and
South Dakota. VISTIVE soybeans have the Roundup Ready® trait and
maintain performance parity with other commercial soybean
varieties. For 2006, VISTIVE will be available in Monsanto's
Asgrow® brand, as well as Stine®, Prairie™ Brand Seed, Latham®
Seed, Kruger™ Seed Company, CROPLAN Genetics®, FS HiSOY®, LG®
Seeds, Producers Hybrids®, Midwest Seed Genetics®, Crow's® and
NC+® seed brands.
Specific information regarding
grower opportunities and contract details will be available from
ADM in the near future.
Archer Daniels Midland
Company (ADM) is a world leader in agricultural processing. ADM
is one of the world's largest processors of soybeans, corn,
wheat and cocoa. ADM is also a leader in the production of soy
meal and oil, ethanol, corn sweeteners and flour. In addition,
ADM produces value-added food and feed ingredients.
Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over 25,000
employees, more than 250 processing plants and net sales for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 of $35.9 billion.
Monsanto Company is a
leading global provider of technology-based solutions and
agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food
quality.
Asgrow®,
Roundup Ready®, VISTIVE™, Crow's®, NC+® and Midwest Seed
Genetics® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC or of a
Monsanto affiliated company. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. ©2006 Monsanto Company. |