At Monsanto, we place value on doing things the right way—openly, honestly and with the utmost respect and integrity. But our values alone cannot guide all of our actions. Our Code —alongside our policies, procedures and the law—exists to help us.
Our Code explains the behaviors expected of us while working for Monsanto, and reinforces our shared values through practical examples. It teaches us how to achieve our business goals with integrity—not simply that we must do so. It is based on the laws, regulations, rules and policies we need to know when performing our jobs, and directs us to the appropriate resources when we need more information.
Most importantly, our Code helps us maintain the trust we have built with our stakeholders: customers, business partners, shareowners, communities, our Company and each other. Our Code reinforces our position on such topics as our Pledge, human rights, sustainability and doing business the right way.
Genetically modified crops (GMCs, GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques, to resist pests and agents causing harm to plants and to improve the growth of these plants to assist in farmers efficiency.
Genetic engineering techniques are much more precise[1] than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding; plant breeding, and animal breeding, and somaclonal variation.
In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in this species. Examples include resistance to certain pests, diseases or environmental conditions, or the production of a certain nutrient or pharmaceutical agent.
Critics have objected to GM crops per se on several grounds, including ecological concerns, and economic concerns raised by the fact these organisms are subject to intellectual property law. GM crops also are involved in controversies over
The first genetically modified crop approved for sale in the U.S., in 1994, was the FlavrSavr tomato, which had a longer shelf life.[17] In 1994, the
