Monsanto Builds Key Research Facilities in China, U.S.

By Jim.Robinson|November 19, 2009

This month, Monsanto Company announced the opening of its first research center in China. According to the company, the Monsanto Biotechnology Research Center in Zhongguancun, Beijing, will strengthen the company’s ties with Chinese research institutions in plant biotechnology and genomics.

The Beijing research center will participate in early-stage bioinformatics and genomics research, and serve as a base for collaborations with Chinese scientists. Monsanto also has research centers in the United States, Brazil and India.

“Monsanto has made a commitment to collaborate with Chinese scientists on advanced biotech and breeding technology,” said Stephen Padgette, vice president of biotechnology for Monsanto. “The establishment of the center will give Chinese researchers access to our global research network and to our industry-leading product development pipeline.”

In addition, Monsanto broke ground in November on a new cotton research facility on a 12.2-acre site in Lubbock, Texas. The $10.5 million research “megasite” will provide a central point for the company’s breeding and testing programs in the High Plains region. About 20 employees will be based at the facility.

“Texas is the major player in the U.S. cotton industry with more than 50 percent of the country’s planted acres,” said Dr. Trevor Hohls, Monsanto global cotton breeding lead. “We have made some great progress with well-adapted germplasm in the past couple of years and are seeing great results with Deltapine’s Class of 09 varieties and Class of 10 candidates. This increase in research will provide continued breakthroughs in genetics and technology for the farm.”