St. Louis, Missouri
January 24, 2008
The
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Council announced this
week that Robert T. Fraley, Ph.D., chief technology officer and
executive vice president for
Monsanto, has been awarded the NAS Award for the Industrial
Application of Science. This prize is awarded every three years
for original work of intrinsic scientific importance and with
significant, beneficial applications in industry -- in this
case, the improvement of crops through biotechnology.
The NAS council awarded Fraley for his development of
"technologies which enabled the production of the world's first
transgenic crops. These plants have increased productivity,
reduced chemical use and profoundly changed global agriculture."
"On behalf of the Monsanto team, I congratulate Robb on this
tremendous recognition," said Hugh Grant, chairman, president
and chief executive officer of Monsanto.
"It was Robb's leadership that brought the first products
developed through biotechnology to market in the 1990s," Grant
said. "As a result of these efforts, literally millions of
farmers around the world benefit from the use of these products
including the ability to increase yield and profitability on
farm while simultaneously reducing global agriculture's
footprint on our environment."
Fraley's development of the first biotechnology product, which
first launched on four million acres in 1996, paved the way for
a renaissance in global agriculture. Today, seven million
farmers in 18 countries grow biotech crops on more than 160
million acres. The 12 products resulting from his work represent
one of the most successful new agricultural technologies ever
launched.
The annual growth and acceptance of these products, steady
addition of new products and a pipeline of future products
emerging from this technology demonstrate the ongoing,
sustainable nature of agricultural biotechnology as a key
agronomic tool to enhance the production of the world's major
food, feed and fiber crops.
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of
technology-based solutions and agricultural products that
improve farm productivity and food quality.
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