The Associated Press. 

August 19, 2000, 
Protesters rally outside Monsanto's corporate offices 

CREVE COUER, Mo. 

Flanked by a huge inflatable ear of genetically-engineered corn, protesters
rallied in front of Monsanto Co.'s corporate campus Friday. 

About 150 activists, mostly from Missouri, gathered to protest Monsanto's
genetically altered crops and seeds. The group was a mix of environmental
activists and family farm coalition members. 

"They are promising farmers things they just can't deliver, specifically
the yield performance (of modified crops)," said Tammy Shea of MoRage, or
Mobilization for Safe Food and Family Farms. "They're promising reduced use
of pesticides and herbicides, and that's something that's just not bearing
out." 

The company, a subsidiary of Pharmacia Corp., is a frequent target of those
opposed to biotechnology. 

Shea cited a study conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska
that showed soybeans genetically altered by Monsanto to resist Monsanto's
herbicide Roundup produced lower yields than conventional soybeans. 

The Roundup Ready soybean is one of Monsanto's best known products. The
company has said the Nebraska study is contrary to the body of research
done on the beans by both Monsanto and independent researchers 

"They show the same general lack of understanding and appreciation of the
benefits of biotechnology to agriculture (as past protesters)," said Gary
Barton, a Monsanto spokesman. 

Most of those at the protest were members of MoRage or the Gateway Green
Alliance. They stood on either side of the entry to the company's
headquarters, in a space set aside by the company, holding signs and waving
to passing motorists. One police officer stood nearby, along with several
Monsanto security officers, but there were no altercations.