Monsanto: Pipeline Report

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|15 January 2008

Monsanto Co.’s research and development pipeline is strong through 2012, the company reported at recent series of presentations. An article from PR Newswire quoted Monsanto’s Steve Padgette, vice president of biotechnology, as saying that “This is the most progress I’ve seen in my 23 years at the company. Our data demonstrates these cutting-edge innovations can deliver new value to farmers well into the next decade.”

Some highlights from the company’s pipeline include:

  • YieldGard VT PRO, a primary components of SmartStax technology, will offer a broader spectrum of insect control and improved durability compared to the company’s first-generation corn borer offering. The second-generation corn borer technology is in Phase IV of the pipeline and is awaiting regulatory approvals.
  • YieldGard Rootworm III is designed with two modes of action for improved spectrum control and enhanced durability against the corn rootworm. The technology uses RNA interference (RNAi) technology and novel protein identification.
  • Omega-3 enriched soybeans will offer a land-based source of essential Omega-3 fatty acids and has demonstrated comparable consumer acceptability. The product continues to demonstrate solid yield performance.
  • Drought-tolerant cotton, designed to minimize risk in cotton farming by providing yield stability in water stressed environments, showed strong performance across multiple gene leads.