Monsanto

Monsanto Company
Type	Public
Traded as	MON; S&P 100 Component
Industry	Agribusiness
Founded	September 26, 1901; 116 years ago; (Spun off from Pharmacia & Upjohn)
Founder	John Francis Queeny
Headquarters	Creve Coeur, Missouri, U.S.
Key people	Hugh Grant; (Chairman, President, & CEO); Pierre Courduroux; (Vice President & CFO);
Products	Herbicides; Pesticides; Crop Seeds; GMOs;
Revenue	US$14.64 billion; (FY AUG 31 2017);
Operating income	US$3.21 billion; (FY AUG 31 2017);
Net income	US$2.27 billion; (FY AUG 31 2017);
Total assets	US$21.33 billion; (FY AUG 31 2017);
Total equity	US$6.46 billion; (FY AUG 31 2017);
Number of employees	c. 20,500 (regular) c. 2,800 (temporary);
Website	monsanto.com

Monsanto Company is a publicly traded American multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is headquartered in Creve Coeur, Greater St. Louis, Missouri. Monsanto developed Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide in the 1970s and is now a major producer of genetically engineered crops.

Monsanto has agreed to accept Bayer's offer to purchase the company for $66 billion ($128/share) in September 2016, and the deal is currently pending regulatory approval.^[2]^[3]^{[needs update]}

Overview

Monsanto has been involved in research on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation and the first mass-produced light-emitting diodes (LEDs)^[4][1] in addition to its work on genetic engineering.

Monsanto was one of four groups to introduce genes into plants (1983),^[5] and was among the first to conduct field trials of genetically modified crops, (1987). It was one of the top 10 U.S. chemical companies until it divested most of its chemical businesses between 1997 and 2002, through a process of mergers and spin-offs that focused the company on biotechnology.

Monsanto was one of the first companies to apply the biotechnology industry business model to agriculture, using techniques developed by biotech drug companies.^[6]^:2–6 In this business model, companies recoup R&D expenses by exploiting biological patents.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Monsanto's roles in agricultural changes, biotechnology products and lobbying of government agencies and roots as a chemical company have surrounded the company in controversies. The company once manufactured controversial products such as the insecticide DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange and recombinant bovine growth hormone. Its seed patenting model was criticized as biopiracy and a threat to biodiversity.^[11]^[12]^[13]