EXHIBIT 99

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                                                       MONSANTO COMPANY
                                                       800 NORTH LINDBERGH BLVD
                                                       ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63167


RELEASE    Immediately

CONTACT    Media:     Lori Fisher (314-694-8535)
           Analysts:  Scarlett Lee Foster (314-694-8148)


MONSANTO COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF SEMINIS

     ST. LOUIS (March 23, 2005) - Monsanto  Company (NYSE:  MON) announced today
that  it  has  completed  the  acquisition  of  Seminis,  Inc.  Seminis,  now  a
wholly-owned   subsidiary   of  Monsanto,   will  retain  its  global   business
headquarters in Oxnard, California.

     Seminis  is the global  leader in the  vegetable  and fruit seed  industry,
supplying  more than 3,500 seed  varieties  to  commercial  fruit and  vegetable
growers, dealers, distributors and wholesalers in more than 150 countries around
the world.

     Monsanto is a leading global provider of seeds, technology and agricultural
products that improve farm productivity and food quality.  For more information,
please visit the company's web site at www.monsanto.com.

                                      -oOo-