December 7, 2010

Monsanto Company appoints new member to Board of Directors

Monsanto Company has announced the appointment of Laura K. Ipsen to the company's Board of Directors.

Ipsen is currently the senior vice president and general manager, Connected Energy Industries, for Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking technology that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, based in San Jose, California.

Since joining the company in 1995, Ipsen founded and led Cisco's global policy and government affairs organization.  In addition to her current role in managing Cisco's strategy in helping transform the energy and water industries, she is the co-chair of Cisco's EcoBoard, which defines and drives the company's global environmental strategy, including how to use information technology to achieve a positive impact on the environment and climate change.

Prior to Cisco, she worked in government affairs and international trade for Hitachi Data Systems, Acer Corporation and Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP.

"On behalf of Monsanto, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Ipsen as an independent director to our Board," said Hugh Grant, Monsanto's chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer.

"Laura's experience will enable her to provide valuable insight to our board on a variety of matters, including information technology and key legislative and regulatory issues facing our global technology business, as well as strategic oversight of our sustainability efforts," he said.

Ipsen's appointment is effective immediately, and she will stand for election to the Board at the 2011 annual meeting of shareowners.  Ipsen will serve on the Science and Technology Committee and the Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee.

The addition of Ipsen to Monsanto's board brings the number of directors to 12, with 11 independent directors.

The company also announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of US$0.28 per share. The dividend relates to the company's first quarter of its 2011 fiscal year. The dividend is payable on January 28, 2011 to shareowners of record on January 7, 2011.