Monsanto constantly adapts to new challenges in the agricultural sector and try to stay competitive through innovative ideas, tailor made strategies and the development of new technologies and high performance products.

With the acquisition of seed companies in South Africa a few years ago, Monsanto had a maize market share of less than 20 % in the seed sector. Now, with the support of modern facilities and research globally, and with new products well adapted for South African circumstances and for different production areas, the company has increase its maize market share to about 50 %.

The company’s excellent facilities available in the USA and Europe, as well as locally, further add to the prosperity of the total agricultural sector in South Africa.

During the past few years, Monsanto managed to develop into the market leader as an integrated input supplier. An input supplier who provides the farmer with integrated solutions for weed control, high yields and easy management as well as excellent products – a true technology company.

Monsanto’s success can be contributed to the achievements of the winning products such as CRN 3505, DKC 78 – 15 B, and DKC 80 – 10 as well as Roundup, which has been used for 30 years.

Farmers must keep abreast with new developments in the agricultural sector, products, technologies, marketing, as well as labour issues. Monsanto strives to address this and contribute to sustainable development by bringing new products and technologies that are acceptable and suitable to the agricultural sector. The company aims to strengthen its product portfolio by further integrating chemical crop protection, seed and technology in the marketplace.

Innovative thoughts, personal service, knowledge and research is available to the South African farmer and continuous dedicated and focused research enables Monsanto to offer solutions to farmers to face the challenges on their farms.

Annually, Monsanto spends millions of rands on research and uses laboratory techniques to support its breeding programmes in order to bring new hybrids faster to the market. This is known as marker assistant breeding (MAB). In this technique, specific genes are identified to address a specific problem and the time span of traditional breeding is shortened tremendously by using MAB. This technique has many advantages for the agricultural sector in South Africa, especially with regard to drought and disease resistance, which is of great importance in a country such as South Africa where farmers are struggling with climatic conditions that limits yield.

Research makes it possible to provide:

• Excellent seed cultivars for optimal production
• Innovative biotechnology products to the entire agriculture sector
• First-rate chemical products that offer optimum and safe crop protection and yields.

Monsanto not only focuses on the development of new products, but also places a strong emphasis on the evaluation of these new as well as existing products under commercial conditions in the various agronomic areas.

In various trials Monsanto’s gathers information on:

• Cultivar performance – yield
• Cultivar adaptation in the various agronomic areas
• Optimal plant populations for dry land as well as irrigation situations
• Germination and vigour
• Disease and heat tolerance.

Trials are of critical value when it comes to the registration of all new products as well as for the compilation of labels for the chemical products.

Biotechnology can further benefit the agricultural sector with regard to the decrease in production costs and ease of management and can thus positively contribute towards improved product quality. Biotechnology also provides an answer for the emergent farmer because they do not always have the knowledge and experience to properly manage diseases and insects. The use of biotechnology can contribute to a decrease in the use of chemicals, which can have a positive effect on the environment.

Monsanto with its DEKALB seed brand and with the wide range of herbicides and biotechnology traits, addresses the needs of farmers with integrated and effective management of processes, products and client service. Monsanto focuses on relationships and direct contact with clients is therefore of great importance to the company.

Monsanto’s Social Responsibility Programme has been developed in response to global issues, as well as the unique social and economic characteristics of the Southern African region. Monsanto aims to support projects and programmes that involve more people in the economy and develops the region in order to ensure that our business, with its substantial investments, prospers.

As an agricultural company and input supplier, Monsanto is part of the food chain and supports non-governmental organisations, particularly community based developmental organizations, that work to develop practical solutions to the problem of food security, agricultural training, unemployment solutions and environmental issues.

Over the past few years, Monsanto has supported projects such as Thusanang, Habitat for Humanity, Take a Girl Child to Work Day, Bursaries for underprivileged students in South Africa and Kenya and the DAPP Vocational School in Malawi (Agricultural training), Buhle Acadamy as well as contributing to a number of other worthy causes such as The Hospice Tree of Light, Casual Day and the Wash Line Project.

All these endeavors are supported by the company’s broad view on integrated systems, research, product evaluation and people development.