An ecosystem services reviewreport produced by:

Tamara CohenJack SolomonBenjamin SchottYumie Kawasaki

Corporate Overview

The Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is an international agricultural biotechnology firm.  Their operations fall under two branches: seeds and genomics and agricultural productivity.

Greater grain demand drives the need for more yield, and more yield drives the need for more innovation.

Corporate Strategy Trends

Technology agreements with farmers

 Aggressive acquisition strategy

Farmers are prohibited from saving the seeds from one season of produce for planting the

next season.

Scope Seeds and TraitsSeeds and Genomics accounted for 56% of total revenues in the Financial Year 2008.

•Increased yield•Efficiency in production•Herbicide tolerance•Insect resistance•Drought tolerance

Products:Genetically modified corn, cotton, oilseed, and vegetable seeds. 

Monsanto sells their genetically modified seed under an assortment of different names including: •Asgrow

•Dekalb•Deltapine•De Ruiter Seeds•Genuity•Roundup Ready•Seminis•Vistive

Product Attributes:

Ecosystem Assessment Review

Top 3 dependent ecosystem services• genetic resources

• climate change

• wild foods

Top 3 applicable regulatory areas• genetic resources

• global climate regulation

• water purification and waste treatment

Changes, Versatility, & Durability of:genetic resources

• Scientific uncertainty

• Naturally occurring genetic variability

• Biodiversity issues

Climate Change

AND ECOLOGICAL SUFFICIENCYA THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY

Strategies

Genetically engineer seeds to establish a dual-product correspondence

Genetically engineer seeds to in "perform better" in environmental conditions

Ethical Controversies• Scientific boundaries?

• Manipulation of not fully understood processes

• Consumption of GMO products

• Manipulation of ecosystem dynamics

How does this affect their dependence on ecosystem services?

Genetic Resource Climate Change Wildlife

DuPont (2) Developing GM seed $1 million financial

support to the Global Crop Diversity Trust

Technical Support to create a searchable online database hosted by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Reducing energy use and Co2 emission by conservation or minimum tillage agriculture

65% reduction of greenhouse gas emission from 1990 level to 2005

Create DuPont Nature center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve

Member of Wildlife Habitat Council

23 DuPont operated sitesEx. Mexico-planting native weeds-planting trees-improving water quality of

pond-setting up birdhouse

Syngenta (3) Developing GM seed Research Farmers and public

education

Leading development of GM plants used to produce renewable energy such as ethanol

Using green energy such as solar energy

Reducing energy use and Co2 emission by conservation or minimum tillage agriculture

Sale “OPERATION BUMBLEBEE”

Reinforced projects of biodiversity

Competitors

Opportunities towards Sustainability• A $10 million grant to create “Monsanto's Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars

Program” (March 25th, 2009)• GM agricultural reports form India, China and Philippine (February 17 th, 2009)

– Ex. In china – Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP) in Chinese Academy of Sciences– Increase 9.6% of cotton yield– Reduced 60% of agrichemical uses– Increase profit $220/ acre

• Release Roundup Ready 2 Yieldtm soybean which has higher yield than the conventional Round UP Ready soybean. (2009 February 4th )  

• New Initiative Focuses on Water Quality Improvement in the Mississippi River area (2008 December 8th) 

– Project to reduce water waste and soil elusion around Mississippi River area working with Environmental Protection Agency and Agricultural Agency such as The Nature conservancy, The Iowa Soybean Association, Delta Wildlife and National Audubon Society.

– More than $ 5million dollar of financial support • Partnership with African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

– Industry wide partnership (Syngenta and DuPont)– Provide information and skills from Global Biotech Stress Tolerance Collaboration – Provide genetic resources from global proprietary breeding programs

Discussion …