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USA: May 24, 2005

KANSAS CITY - Monsanto Co. on Monday discounted as insignificant European
reports that the company's internal research had found variations in the
health of rats fed Monsanto's biotech corn.

The furor concerns a type of corn that has been genetically altered to
protect itself against corn rootworm. The Monsanto study found that rats fed
the biotech corn had smaller kidneys and blood composition different from
rats not fed the corn.
But Monsanto said the research, which has sparked alarm among some European
scientists and government officials, is not evidence of any hidden dangers
in its technology. The study reflects only inconsequential differences in
kidney size and blood composition in the animals used, the company said.

"This is not a health and safety issue," Monsanto spokesman Chris Horner
said.

Monsanto, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is the world's leading developer of
genetic modifications for corn, soybeans, cotton and canola. The company's
technology enables crops to become resistant to insects and tolerant of weed
killers. US farmers have largely embraced the developments, particularly in
soybeans.

But other countries, notably in the European Union, have been slow to
approve the products because of questions about how genetic changes in the
plants affect humans and animals.

And some US critics have been vocal as well.

"The study showing problems... is just one of many such alarming results
that have been distorted, denied, or covered up," said Jeffrey Smith, the
author of a book about Monsanto and its development of biotech crops.

"Other GM (genetically modified) rat studies revealed liver problems,
potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, inhibited
organ development, stomach lesions and unexplained deaths," he said. "The
technology of inserting genes into crops... is fraught with dangerous,
hard-to-detect side-effects."

Monsanto spokesman Horner said the anomalies are not outside of a normal
statistical range expected in these types of studies.

"All the relevant European authorities have looked at this research," he
said. "The questions were surrounding statistical issues, not anything
substantial to the health of rats."

Monsanto has requested approval to import the biotech corn for use in
processed foods and derived food products, but the EU's 25 governments are
deadlocked over the issue.

Critics of biotech food said there are numerous studies beyond Monsanto's
internal research that show health concerns tied to those products.

Monsanto shares were down 34 cents at $57.66 in early trading on the New
York Stock Exchange.

Story by Carey Gillam

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE