Monsanto Company plans to become a part of the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC), a one-of-a-kind facility under development in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

Envisioned and founded by David Murdock, owner of Castle & Cooke Inc., and majority owner of Dole Foods Company, Inc., the NCRC brings together academia and industry, and fosters collaborative research in nutrition, agriculture and biotechnology to accelerate the development of foods with enhanced flavour and greater nutritive value to improve human health.

Monsanto has signed a long-term lease to establish research facilities focused on the taste and nutritional composition of vegetables, and enhanced nutrition in food-focused row crops such as soy.

Robb Fraley, chief technology officer for Monsanto, said, "The research centre holds great promise and the potential to make a significant contribution to human health, nutrition and agriculture. The synergy that exists at a campus like this could lead to truly innovative research and products with long-term benefits for consumers."

Teamwork and third-party alliances are at the core of Monsanto's R&D leadership in agricultural biotechnology.

Monsanto will be a flagship corporate tenant at NCRC's 350-acre life science campus. Previously announced tenants of NCRC include the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Duke University, Appalachian State University, and Dole Foods R&D Group.

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products.

The North Carolina Research Campus is a world class facility where industry and academic scientists from across the globe are coming together to drive innovation and discovery at the intersection of nutrition, human health and agriculture.