St. Louis, Missouri
February 9, 2007
In 1970 John Franz, Ph.D.,
discovered that a chemical, later named glyphosate, had the
amazing ability to block the growth of vegetation. Because of
his discovery, glyphosate soon became the active ingredient in
Roundup herbicides, now the world's most effective and
top-selling herbicides.
This monumental discovery will be formally recognized on May 5,
when Dr. Franz is inducted into the National Inventors Hall of
Fame® in Akron, Ohio. He joins other leaders of the agricultural
industry, including Eli Whitney, John Deere, and George
Washington Carver, who were previously inducted to the Hall of
Fame, which honors the women and men responsible for the great
technological advances that make human, social and economic
progress possible.
"We at Monsanto thank Dr.
Franz for his discovery, and congratulate him on this historic
occasion. Dr. Franz started Monsanto down a path that led us to
be the agricultural company we are today," said Robert T.
Fraley, Ph.D., chief technology officer and executive vice
president for Monsanto. "His discovery of glyphosate was pivotal
in the history of agriculture, enabling the development of
conservation tillage systems which lower grower production costs
and reduce soil erosion. Subsequent advances in biotechnology
and development of Roundup Ready® crops have extended
glyphosate's use for controlling weeds in crops across the
globe. Dr. Franz helped create a product with tremendous staying
power in the market -- millions of farmers have been relying on
this product for more than 30 years."
Agricultural innovations such as Roundup herbicides improve the
quality of life for all of society. Roundup brand herbicides
have reached farther than just the farm. They are used in homes,
gardens, zoos, golf courses, conservation areas, and habitat
restoration projects, protecting sensitive areas from invasive
weed species. Roundup agricultural herbicides allow farmers to
produce abundant, healthy food while stewarding the environment
and consumer formulations enable homeowners to maintain healthy
and attractive gardens. Monsanto's glyphosate products are
registered in more than 130 countries and are approved for weed
control in more than 100 crops.
No other herbicide's active
ingredient compares in terms of number of approved uses.
"I'm very honored to be recognized by the Hall of Fame, mostly
because it's a recognition of the entire team of scientists who
worked on and supported the development of Roundup herbicides,"
said Dr. Franz. "Thinking back on it, we never imagined
glyphosate would become part of a product that is now a
household name."
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of
technology- based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality. |