Statement re Monsanto

Plant Health Care PLC 21 February 2008 Embargoed for release: 07.00, 21 February 2008 Plant Health Care ('PHC') Statement regarding a Monsanto announcement Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC.L), a leading provider of natural products for plants and soil, would like to draw investors' attention to an announcement issued by Monsanto on 20 February 2008. The announcement refers to PHC in two paragraphs (see below) and PHC confirms that the Monsanto release is entirely in line with the PHC release dated 12 December. The Monsanto announcement is set out in full below. 'NEW YORK, Feb. 20 Monsanto (NYSE: MON) Company's technologies have placed it in a unique position to help farmers meet the changing supply-demand patterns of global agriculture, Monsanto's Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations, Carl Casale, will tell investors tomorrow. Casale will deliver his remarks as part of a presentation at the Morgan Stanley Basic Materials Conference 2008 on Thursday in New York. Casale's presentation will discuss how there has been a fundamental shift in the agricultural landscape creating a new demand-driven agriculture market fueled by three main factors. These factors include increased protein demand from rising incomes, demand for grain from China and biofuels. 'The real demand pull comes from China,' Casale said. 'To meet the protein demands of this growing population, China will look outside of its agricultural sector, providing an enormous demand pull for grain over the next decade.' 'The solution to meeting these demands is yield,' Casale said. 'In a demand-driven environment opportunity is defined by scarcity or innovation,' he said. 'Monsanto's strategy is targeted on innovation -- discovering and developing technology that is game changing.' Casale believes the company's innovation focus sets it apart, both in the value created for farmers and the company's strategic opportunity. 'We will grow because of what we do, how we invest and what we deliver -- not because of what the commodity cycles do,' he said. Casale believes that the company's ability to provide technology to boost per-acre productivity will be key to helping farmers meet the needs of a demand-driven market. These potential technologies, like Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans, SmartStax corn and nitrogen-utilization corn are being developed to drive yields to meet these demands, he said. Monsanto Establishes Global Seed Treatment Platform As a technology company with strong cash generation, Monsanto has the opportunity to invest in growth areas for agriculture, Casale said. As part of his presentation, Casale will announce that Monsanto is establishing a global seed treatment platform. The company has entered into separate agreements with Becker Underwood and Plant Health Care Inc., as novel components of the platform for delivering proprietary seed treatments for corn, soybeans and cotton. The global platform is a natural complement to the company's seed strategy and yield-enhancing technology pioneered by Monsanto through biotechnology and breeding, as well as its collaborative approach to new technologies, Casale said. 'As we develop our seed-treatment platform, we're planning to stake a leading position in an underserved, but emerging category and to enter into a variety of licensing and supply agreements,' Casale said. 'Seed treatments are the next step in yield protection and delivery, and represent a high-margin global opportunity.' The global seed treatment industry generates annual sales of greater than $1.5 billion, with almost $900 million in the crops key to Monsanto's business. Currently, Monsanto treats more than 1 billion pounds of seed each year and sees the potential to expand treatment to new crops and new geographies, Casale said. 'The realizable yield in seeds is so valuable to farmers that seed treatments are the next logical complement to further protect yield created by advanced breeding and biotech traits,' said Casale. Monsanto plans to begin offering seed treatments as early as the 2009 season. In 2009, Monsanto plans to treat all Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans with a proprietary treatment, aimed at incremental yield boost in soybeans. Similarly in 2010, Monsanto plans to have a proprietary seed treatment for the launch of its SmartStax corn product, and the company is also working to have a seed treatment solution for its Deltapine cotton varieties by 2011. The agreement between Monsanto and Becker Underwood is focused on evaluating a biological seed treatment aimed at helping soybeans improve both their nitrogen fixation ability and overall plant performance. Monsanto is also working with Plant Health Care Inc. to develop and commercialize a novel seed-based solution for nematodes, a plant parasite that can severely limit crop yields around the world in crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton and vegetables. Casale's presentation slides and simultaneous audio webcast of the presentation may be accessed by visiting the company's web site athttp://www.monsanto.com/ investors . Following tomorrow's live broadcast set for 8 a.m. ET, a replay of the webcast will be available for two weeks through this same link. Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.' For information on Monsanto, see: http://www.monsanto.com/. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this release are 'forward-looking statements,' such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits, including proceedings related to Solutia Inc.; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent periodic report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results. CONTACT: media, Lee Quarles, +1-314-694-2330, or investors, Scarlett Lee Foster, +1-314-694-8148, both of Monsanto Web site: http://www.monsanto.com/ For further information please visit www.planthealthcare.com or contact: Plant Heath Care plc Evolution Securities Tavistock Limited Communications John Brady, Chief Executive Tim Worlledge/Tim Jeremy Carey/Matt Redfern Ridsdale Tel: 001 603 525 3702 Tel: 020 7071 4300 Tel: 020 7920 3150 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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