1)One of the primary issues with this report is the definition of sustainability that Monsanto relies on to set the

parameters of their intentions. They make it clear that the single most important thing they have to accomplish for sustainability is to increase crop yields. Increasing yields of the staple crops of corn, soy, cotton and canola is vital, since they repeatedly emphasize that the yield of these crops will need to double by 2030 in order to keep up with the projected 9 billion Earthlings that will inhabit the planet by then. These statements are followed by the claim that they will increase these yields while simultaneously decreasing crop impact on land use, water use, energy use, soil loss and climate per unit of production. Producing more. Conserving more. Improving farmers lives. Thats sustainable agriculture.

http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/01/monsanto-csr-2010/ The need for sustainability awareness is becoming an imperative, as global pressures intensify. The population will soon surpass six billion, while concern about climate, water, land, and habit preservation continue to mount.developing economies are creating growing markets for goods and services. It is creating opportunities for companies to change how they engage suppliers and ,operate facilities, and service customers. In addition to new technologies, new production methods, and new management systems, these companies will need a new language to communicate their performance goals and progress. A sustainability performance process respond to that final, fundamental process. http://www.economics.com/images/Sustainability%20Measurement%20GIN.pdfntal need. 2)Monsanto has a long history of producing genetically modified seeds. One of their crowning achievements was the creation of so-called terminator seeds, which produce sterile plants they cannot reproduce on their own, so farmers have to spend lots of money to buy the same seeds from Monsanto year after year, instead of using seeds from their own crops the traditional or old-fashioned way. Whats old-fashioned about reusing what you already have? Nothing, but its hard to make money off people who do that. They are also the proud creators and promoters of the rGBH growth hormone that is given to most cows that produce non-organic milk and theyve been fighting hard to keep companies from labeling their milk as rGBH-free because, they claim, theres absolutely nothing different about milk from rGBH cows. Even now, anyone who does label their milk rGBH-free has to include a disclaimer to that effect. I prefer to know where my food comes from, and to make my own judgments. Its especially interesting that the two crops shown in the ad are corn and soybeans, the two signature products of Americas industrial agriculture system. Corn, in particular, is becoming known as an environmental menace when its grown on a large scale it requires a lot of fertilizer (in spite of all Monsantos genetic advances) and it does a number on the soil. On a traditional, sustainable farm, corn wouldnt be grown repeatedly on the same field, but thats what most farmers do now, because fertilizer is so cheap. And when it rains and the unused compounds in the fertilizer run off the fields, its a major contributing factor to huge dead zones in waters like the Gulf of Mexico, oxygen-starved areas where no fish or plants can survive. So while its a nice claim that Monsanto wants to develop new seeds to use less water, they hardly have a track record of sustainability. And improving farmers lives? Monsantos practices create loyal consumers among farmers by selling them not only GMO seeds, but the exact fertilizers and pesticides needed to bring those seeds to maturity. All these chemicals are the antithesis of organic farming, where fertilizer comes from cows and chickens right on the farm (did you know methane that offgases from manure at industrial animals farms, called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, is a major contributor to global warming?), and pest control is achieved naturally by introducing the right balances of plants and animals, and growing plant varieties with strong natural defenses. All in all, Monsanto is the leader of Big Agriculture, and this ad is an impressive piece of greenwashing.

The project is designed to negate the efforts of environmental organisations that are campaigning against genetically modified foods, says Tom McDermott of Monsanto Europe. The company believes that it can win consumers over by informing them about the benefits of the foods. 'Consumers don't know enough. They need more information,' says McDermott. 'We hope to find through this research what people think and what they need to

http://handsfreecooking.net/blog/2008/10/greenwashing-monsanto-for-sustainable-agriculture/

3) Monsanto recognizes that our greatest assets are our people. We are committed to recruiting and retaining the best individuals. This commitment is viewed as a strategic business imperative and is articulated in the element in Our Pledge entitled: To Create a Great Place to Work. We have numerous programs that support this approach, including market-competitive compensation, opportunities for personal and professional growth, often initiated by the employees, and a team-oriented culture that encourages creativity, decision-making and entrepreneurial spirit. http://dmedia.ucsc.edu/~bsharris/film%20170a/proj3/monsanto/monsanto/layout/careers/default.html B)Community Legal Services, a not-for-profit civil law firm in Arizona, filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the Monsanto Company on behalf of 16 U.S. migrant workers from Yuma County, including a 13-year-old boy, for egregious employment practices. According to attorney Pamela Bridge, who is representing the workers, in June 2010 Monsanto recruited the workers from San Luis, Ariz., to detassel corn in Indiana. The workers, she added, were promised free transportation to Indiana, decent, free housing and certain wages. According to the lawsuit, however, once the workers arrived in Indiana, they were housed in an overcrowded, substandard hotel. Furthermore, it contends, they were not paid for a couple of weeks and had no way to get food. "These people were experienced farmworkers who know what to expect," Bridge said. "They know the standard practices and that they shouldnt have been treated that way." The lawsuit also alleges that while in the fields, the migrant workers were not given the proper equipment, which caused most of them to receive blisters. The workers were also never paid for all of the wages promised to them. "The conditions were so egregious that a group of the workers called Community Legal Services from a pay phone in Indiana," Bridge said. "I contacted attorneys for Monsanto at that time and informed them that not only were several of the workers unhappy, but at least one of the workers was injured." Bridge said that after a couple of weeks, the workers returned to Arizona. She explained that the federal Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act provides agricultural workers with certain protections concerning their wages, transportation and employment housing. For instance, an employer has to pay the wages promised to the workers and cannot change the terms and conditions of the working conditions.

"Im glad they are speaking out," Bridge said. "Sometimes workers are afraid to speak up. For them to do it had to be really bad." If the employer houses the workers, the housing has to comply with state and federal standards. "Monsanto placed the workers in an overcrowded hotel in which the workers, including the 13-year-old, had to take turns sleeping on the floor," Bridge said. "We are concerned because we have sued Monsanto before for almost the exact same bad practices yet they continue to take advantage of our Arizona low-wage workers." The workers are asking for statutory and compensatory damages under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act and the Arizona Wage Payment Act in addition to injunctive relief against Monsanto to prevent future violations.

http://www.combat-monsanto.co.uk/spip.php?article704 B)A subsidiary of Monsanto is alleged to employ child labor in the manufacture of cotton-seeds in India. The work involves handling of poisonous pesticides such as Endosulfan and the children get less than Rs.20 (less than half a US dollar) per day Wiki pedia 5)Did Monsanto advertise and say about the role of consuming of organic food? The project is designed to negate the efforts of environmental organisations that are campaigning against genetically modified foods, says Tom McDermott of Monsanto Europe. The company believes that it can win consumers over by informing them about the benefits of the foods. 'Consumers don't know enough. They need more information,' says McDermott. 'We hope to find through this research what people think and what they need to Monsanto should increase the advertisements to attract consumers to buy more modified foods. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20042915.html