Biotech Updates

Monsanto Establishes International Scholars Program

March 27, 2009

Monsanto Company announced that it will establish a scholarship program that will support students interested in improving research and production in rice and wheat. Monsanto's Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program honors the accomplishments of plant breeding pioneers Henry Beachell and Norman Borlaug, the fathers of the Green Revolution. Beachell's and Borlaug's contributions have led to the development of improved rice and wheat varieties which saved more than a billion people from starvation. The announcement marks the celebration of Borlaug's 95th birthday.

Monsanto will be allocating USD 10 million for the scholarship program, which will be administered by Texas AgriLife Research for the next five years. AgriLife Research is an agency of the Texas A&M University System.

"This is a welcome investment by the private sector, in an era of increasing food insecurity and decreasing numbers of graduate students in plant breeding," said Thomas Lumpkin, Director General of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

The Students interested in applying to the program can learn more at http://www.monsanto.com/mbbischolars The press release is available at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=699