The Sustainable Yield Pledge Awards promote, recognize and reward people and work that exemplify Monsanto’s Pledge values and support our commitment to make agriculture more sustainable.

Our senior leadership selected six category winners. Distinguished external judges selected a Judges’ Choice winner, and our employees selected the People’s Choice winner. The 2012 ceremony was held in the summer of 2012.

Award Categories

Producing More

Projects that contribute to meeting the growing demand for high quality food, fuel and fiber for all people.

Conserving More

Projects that contribute to improved resource use and environmental impact.

Improving Lives

Projects that contribute to increased quality of life throughout the world.

Customer Relationships

Projects that provide value to and build strong ties with our customers and their needs.

Community Engagement

Projects that benefit the communities in which we operate.

Operational Excellence

Projects that improve our operational standards or efficiencies.

2012 JUDGES’ CHOICE:

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF WOMEN FARMERS IN KENYA

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2012 PEOPLE’S CHOICE:

HELPING FARMERS RECOVERING FROM THE CATASTROPHIC FROST IN SINALOA, MEXICO

2012 Pledge Winners

GRI EN 26 UN 8 UN 9 Produce More

Helping Cotton Farmers Produce More in India’s Vidarbha Region

Crops in Vidarbha, located in Maharashtra, in central India, are predominantly rain fed. And when the region endures frequent droughts, crop yields and farmers’ incomes drop. Monsanto launched Project V-Care into this environment to improve crop management practices, primarily through education and training in eight cotton districts.

GRI EN 26 UN 8 UN 9  Conserve More

Fontanelle’s Aqua View^®Initiative Conserves Water

Fontanelle’s Aqua View initiative is a systems approach comprised of water management tools, quality seed genetics, educational programs and support services designed to help growers in irrigated areas maximize the value of their seeds and traits with savings of approximately 10.5 million gallons in 2010 and 8.4 billion gallons in 2011.

Improve Lives

Responding to Drought in East Africa

In the Horn of Africa, the worst drought in 60 years foretold widespread famine in 2011. By the time the United Nations declared the first famine in nearly 30 years, more than 13 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda needed food, water and safety to survive. Monsanto and its employees forged new partnerships with three experienced, well-respected relief organizations: World Food Program USA, Kenya Red Cross Society and Catholic Relief Services.

Customer Relationships [People’s Choice]

Helping Farmers Recovering from the Catastrophic Frost in Sinaloa, Mexico

In February 2010, freezing temperatures in Sinaloa wiped out 90 percent of the corn crop, an overwhelming loss to the Mexican economy that potentially would impact local food resources and the international corn market. Within 48 hours, Monsanto put more than 50 people in place to focus on a plan of action to deal with the damaging frost.

Community Engagement [Judges’ Choice]

Improving the Lives of Women Farmers in Kenya

Zallipah Githui returned to her village in Ngorano, Kenya, from her job at Monsanto to help improve the lives of farmers and their families. She spent her own money and contributions from Monsanto employees and provided hybrid corn seeds, fertilizers and the services of an agronomist to sixteen women farmers in Ngorano, and has plans to turn her initial efforts into a not-for-profit organization called Rural Woman Development Initiative.

Operational Excellence

Changing Can Be Challenging

Our teams, in collaboration with U.S. distribution partners, streamlined operations, increased efficiencies and decreased costs, resulting in a more professional dealer network with pinpoint inventory accuracy right down the line.