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The NAS council awarded Fraley for his development of "technologies whichenabled the production of the world's first transgenic crops. These plantshave increased productivity, reduced chemical use and profoundly changedglobal agriculture."
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"On behalf of the Monsanto team, I congratulate Robb on this tremendousrecognition," said Hugh Grant, chairman, president and chief executive officerof Monsanto.
"It was Robb's leadership that brought the first products developedthrough biotechnology to market in the 1990s," Grant said. "As a result ofthese efforts, literally millions of farmers around the world benefit from theuse of these products including the ability to increase yield andprofitability on farm while simultaneously reducing global agriculture'sfootprint on our environment."
Fraley's development of the first biotechnology product, which firstlaunched on four million acres in 1996, paved the way for a renaissance inglobal agriculture. Today, seven million farmers in 18 countries grow biotechcrops on more than 160 million acres. The 12 products resulting from his workrepresent one of the most successful new agricultural technologies everlaunched.
The annual growth and acceptance of these products, steady addition of newproducts and a pipeline of future products emerging from this technologydemonstrate the ongoing, sustainable nature of agricultural biotechnology as akey agronomic tool to enhance the production of the world's major food, feedand fiber crops.
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider oftechnology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farmproductivity and food quality. For more information, please visit:http://www.monsanto.com.
SOURCE Monsanto Company
