By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

SYCAMORE, Ill. — Monsanto’s 1,000 square-foot traveling mobile technology unit recently made a stop at the DeKalb County Center for Agriculture in Illinois.

DeKalb County Farm Bureau members were the first to tour the 53-foot-long unit, which showcases innovations in plant breeding and biotechnology.

“We’ve stopped at fairs, field days and college campuses. We’re taking our message to farmers where they live,” said Gary Barton, biotechnology guest relations with Monsanto.

The guided tour, given to about 20 people at a time, starts with a 14-minute video narrated by Kurt Warner. Although he’s known for his professional football career, Warner grew up on an Iowa farm.
“He has an honest connection with the land,” Barton said.

Barton is among the team of experienced ag educators who also conduct tours at the company’s Chesterfield, Mo., research facility and crop analytics operation. Just a few of the interesting facts visitors learn about include:

•Using advanced robotic systems which allow researchers to analyze seed samples more than 10 times faster than possible with conventional technology.

•Monsanto scientists have mapped 44,000 genes in a corn plant to identify specific genes associated with desirable characteristics such as yield, root and stalk strength and disease resistance.

•On average, it takes eight to 10 years and an investment of $50 million-$100 million to develop and introduce a single new trait.
•The company’s crop analytics team scans more than 3 million corn seeds each year in an MRI to analyze the oil content of corn to produce higher quality grain.

•The company’s corn pipeline is poised to double corn yields – to 300 bushels per acre – in the next 25 years.

•Monsanto is developing soybeans to produce oil with heart-healthy Omega 3 through biotechnology by extracting genes from sea algae.

Following the tour, farmers have the opportunity to view ethanol exhibits outside the unit, including an on-site ethanol production demonstration unit.

Partnering with Monsanto, General Motors has donated a Chevy Silverado and Chevy Suburban to support the tour. Both vehicles are fitted with an E85 “Live Green, Go Yellow” wrap.