2006

Monsanto introduces Roundup Ready Flex cotton, providing farmers with a wider over-the-top application window throughout the growing season, as compared to its original Roundup Ready cotton technology.

Monsanto becomes the first agriculture company to introduce a stacked second-generation product when it introduces Bollgard II insect-protected cotton with Roundup Ready Flex. The product provides farmers with the same benefits as its Bollgard II product as well as its Roundup Ready Flex technology.

2005

Monsanto introduces Vistive low-linolenic soybeans. VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans, which were produced through conventional breeding, offer the ability to reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids (trans fats) in processed soybean oil.

Monsanto acquires Seminis, Inc., a global leader in the vegetable and fruit seed industry. Seminis supplies more than 3,500 seed varieties to commercial fruit and vegetable growers, dealers, distributors and wholesalers in more than 150 countries around the world. The company is headquarters in Oxnard, California

Monsanto introduces the first triple-trait technology offered by any company in the agriculture industry, YieldGard Plus with Roundup Ready Corn 2. The product offers three traits in one seed - including Monsanto's two YieldGard insect-protection products and its Roundup Ready technology.

Monsanto acquires the Stoneville cotton business, including it's NexGen brand.

Monsanto's ASI subsidiary acquires NC+ Hybrids, Inc., headquartered in Lincoln, Neb.

Monsanto completes its sale of Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems Inc. to a new company formed by the Enviro-Chem management team and an outside investor. The new company is MECS, Inc.

Monsanto's ASI subsidiary acquires four companies that are the shareowners of the CORE Group - including Fontanelle Hybrids, based in Fontanelle, Neb.; Stewart Seeds, based in Greensburg, Ind.; Trelay Seeds, based in Livingston, Wis.; and, Stone Seeds, based in Pleasant Plains, Ill. In a separate transaction, ASI also acquires Specialty Hybrids, a leader serving the Eastern Corn Belt.

The 2005 crop season marked the tenth season that biotech crops were planted throughout the world. The 2005 season also marked the year in which the billionth acre was planted with biotech crops and the year in which the billionth acre harvested.

2004

Monsanto introduces YieldGard Plus corn. This product is a stacked version of Monsanto's two YieldGard products in one seed product.

Monsanto forms American Seeds Inc. (ASI), a holding company for mostly corn and soybeans. ASI supports regional seed businesses with capital, genetics and technology investments.

Monsanto's ASI subsidiary acquires Channel Bio Corp. and its three seed brands: Crows Hybrid Corn, Midwest Seed Genetics and Wilson Seeds.

2003

YieldGard Rootworm insect-protected corn is introduced, providing farmers with in-seed insect-protection against the corn rootworm.

Monsanto introduces YieldGard Rootworm insect-protected corn stacked with Roundup Ready Corn 2. The product offers two traits in one seed - including Monsanto's YieldGard Rootworm insect-protection and its Roundup Ready technology.

Monsanto becomes the first agriculture company to introduce a second-generation trait product in cotton when it introduces Bollgard II insect-protected cotton. The product provides farmers with the same benefits as its original Bollgard product as well as expanded protection against other cotton pests.

2002

The new Monsanto Company is spun off from Pharmacia and is now a separate company.

Monsanto becomes the first company to identify and market specific corn hybrids that can yield more ethanol per bushel. The hybrids, sold as Processor Preferred Corn hybrids, help farmers get more ethanol out of their harvest.

Monsanto introduces Processor Preferred Soybean varieties. These varieties help farmers get more oil and protein out of their harvest.

2001

Monsanto becomes the first agriculture company to introduce a second-generation trait product when it introduces Roundup Ready Corn 2. The product provides farmers with a wider application window than the first generation Roundup Ready Corn technology.

Monsanto places the first U.S. corporate order for the first full-size pickup trucks that run on E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

2000

A new Monsanto Company, based on the previous agricultural division of Pharmacia, is incorporated as a stand-alone subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company. (Pharmacia itself eventually becomes a subsidiary of Pfizer, in 2003).

2000

The original Monsanto enters into a merger and changes its name to Pharmacia Corporation.

1998

The original Monsanto completes its purchase of DeKalb Genetics Corp.

Roundup Ready Corn is introduced, providing farmers with in-seed herbicide tolerance to Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides.

The original Monsanto becomes the first company to introduce a stacked trait combination in corn when it introduces YieldGard Corn Borer insect-protected corn stacked with Roundup Ready Corn. The product offers two traits in one seed - including Monsanto's YieldGard Corn Borer insect-protection and its Roundup Ready technology.

1997

YieldGard Corn Borer insect-protected corn is introduced, providing farmers with in-seed insect-protection against the European corn borer.

Asgrow agronomics seed business is purchased by the original Monsanto.

The original Monsanto purchases Holden's Foundation Seeds L.L.C. and Corn States Hybrid Service L.L.C., a supplier of high quality foundation seed for the corn seed industry. The original Monsanto maintains Holden's/Corn States policy of broadly licensing seed companies elite corn germplasm and trait technologies.

The original Monsanto spins off its industrial chemical and fibers business as Solutia Inc.

Roundup Ready Canola is introduced, providing farmers with in-seed herbicide tolerance to Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides.

Roundup Ready Cotton is introduced, providing farmers with in-seed herbicide tolerance to Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides.

The original Monsanto becomes the first company to introduce a stacked trait combination when it introduces Bollgard insect-protected cotton stacked with Roundup Ready Cotton. The product offers two traits in one seed - including Monsanto's Bollgard insect-protection and its Roundup Ready technology.

1996

The original Monsanto acquires the plant biotechnology assets of Agracetus and purchases an interest in Calgene, another biotech research company. (The Calgene acquisition was completed the following year.)

Roundup Ready Soybeans are introduced, providing farmers with in-seed herbicide tolerance to Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides.

Bollgard insect-protected cotton is introduced, providing farmers with in-seed insect-protection against the cotton bollworm, tobacco budworm and pink bollworm.

1994

The original Monsanto's first biotechnology product to win regulatory approval, Posilac, bovine somatotropin (Bst) for dairy cows, goes on sale in the U.S.

1987

The original Monsanto conducts the first U.S. field trials of plants with biotechnology traits.

1984

The Life Sciences Research Center opens in Chesterfield, MO., United States

1982

Scientists working for the original Monsanto are the first to genetically modify a plant cell.

The original Monsanto acquires the Jacob Hartz Seed Co., known for its soybean seed.

1981

A molecular biology group has been set up and biotechnology is firmly established as Monsanto's strategic research focus.

1976

Roundup herbicide is commercialized in the U.S.

1975

A cell biology research program is established in the Agricultural Division.

1968

Commercialization of Lasso herbicide in the U.S. begins the trend toward reduced-tillage farming.

1964

Ramrod herbicide is introduced, beginning the use of Western theme names for the original Monsanto's brands of herbicides.

1960

The Agricultural Division is established.

1945

The original Monsanto produces and markets agricultural chemicals, including 2,4D.

1901

John F. Queeny founds the original Monsanto. His wife was Olga Monsanto Queeny. The first product of that company was saccharine.