Monsanto Canada Launches 2012 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship Program for Rural Students

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - March 23, 2012) - Monsanto Canada today released details regarding the 2012 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program. The program offers graduating grade 12 high school students from farm families the opportunity to capture a $1,500 entrance scholarship to help fund their post-secondary education in agriculture or an agriculture-related field of study.

Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarships are available to eligible students entering their first year of post-secondary education in agriculture at a recognized Canadian educational institution. Now entering its 22^nd year, the company's scholarship program has awarded well over $1 million to thousands of deserving students since the program's inception in 1991.

"When Monsanto looks for ways to give back to rural communities and to farm families, agricultural education is one of our key focus areas," explained Trish Jordan, public affairs director with Monsanto Canada. "With the support and assistant of The Monsanto Fund, we have specifically targeted the needs of students, teachers and schools in rural communities as a place where we think we can make a difference. We want to support and encourage kids from farm families to pursue studies in agriculture and fund projects or initiatives that help strengthen their communities and their lives."

Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarships are available to students who meet the following criteria:

• Students must come from a family farm with confirmed plans to enroll in their first year of post-secondary education in agriculture or an agriculture-related program;
• Students must have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and a keen interest and involvement in their rural community;
• Students must submit a completed application form, which includes an essay that outlines what area of agriculture they would like to work in and why;
• All completed application forms must be post-marked no later than May 25, 2012.

Scholarship application forms and posters in both French and English are in the process of being distributed to high schools, 4-H Clubs, provincial and federal agriculture offices, farm retail outlets and seed companies. Application forms and complete program details are also available from Monsanto's CustomCare^® line at 1-800-667-4944 or they can be accessed online at www.monsanto.ca.

All applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges and winning entries will be announced in September 2012. Last year, 51 rural students from across the country received scholarships to pursue their educational goals. In 2012, The Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program hopes to provide up to 60 scholarships to deserving students.

Through its corporate giving program, Monsanto Canada seeks opportunities to support associations or programs with a focus on science and agricultural education; agricultural awareness; leadership and development opportunities for rural youth; and farm safety. Between $300,000 and $400,000 annually is provided to various Canadian charitable and community groups.

Monsanto Canada also draws additional support from the company's larger global giving fund - The Monsanto Fund - which aims to strengthen both farming communities and the communities where Monsanto employees live and work. The Monsanto Fund seeks opportunities to support initiatives in two main areas:

• Providing basic education support designed to improve education in farming communities around the world, including supporting schools, libraries, science centers, farmer training programs and academic programs that enrich or supplement school programs.
• Meeting critical needs in communities by supporting nonprofit organizations that help with things such as food security, sanitation, access to clean water, public safety and various other local needs.

Since 1964, the Monsanto Fund has worked to substantially and meaningfully improve people's lives. Just as Monsanto has been the leader in innovative and sustainable agriculture, the Monsanto Fund has worked to be an innovative philanthropic leader, providing sustainable assistance to communities in need around the world. More information is available at www.monsantofund.org.

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto family. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.