Monsanto Company recently received approval in the European Union for the importation of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans.

This approval follows the European Food Safety Authority's positive scientific opinion in July concluding Roundup Ready 2 Yield is safe for import as food and feed.

The European Union imports accounted for approximately 10% of U.S. soybean exports in 2007, making it a significant purchaser of U.S. soybeans.

"The European Union regulatory approval demonstrates the growing acceptance of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans throughout the world," says Brett Begemann, Monsanto's executive vice president of global commercial business.

Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans are the next generation of the popular Roundup Ready technology farmers have used in soybeans since 1996. In four years of testing, Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans have demonstrated a consistent yield advantage of 7% to 11% over Roundup Ready soybeans. The four-year average yield increase of Roundup Ready 2 Yield over its first-generation counterpart was 9%.

Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans will be introduced on 1 million to 2 million U.S. acres for the 2009 season as part of a controlled commercial release, followed by a large-scale product launch of 5 million to 6 million U.S. acres scheduled for 2010.