EXHIBIT 12 MONSANTO COMPANY COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES(1) (Dollars in millions) Nine Months Eight Months Ended Ended May 31, Year Ended Aug. 31, Aug. 31, Year Ended Dec. 31, 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- EARNINGS: Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change $ 1,245 $ 261 $ 394 $ (21) $ 231 $ 485 $ 359 Add: Fixed charges 119 136 112 71 105 147 272 Dividends from affiliated companies - - - - 1 1 1 Equity affiliate expense -- net 21 31 36 26 43 41 34 Less: Capitalized interest (7) (6) (7) (4) (8) (30) (37) --------- ------- ------ -------- ------ ------ ------ Earnings available for fixed charges $ 1,378 $ 422 $ 535 $ 72 $ 372 $ 644 $ 629 ========= ======= ====== ======== ====== ====== ====== FIXED CHARGES: Interest expense(2) $ 100 $ 115 $ 91 $ 57 $ 81 $ 99 $ 214 Capitalized interest 7 6 7 4 8 30 37 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 12 15 14 10 16 18 21 -------- ------- ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ Total Fixed Charges $ 119 $ 136 $ 112 $ 71 $ 105 $ 147 $ 272 ======== ======= ====== ======= ====== ====== ====== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 11.58 3.10 4.78 1.01 3.54 4.38 2.31 ===== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== (1) Monsanto has not paid any preference security dividends and, therefore, has not included the ratio of combined fixed charges and preference security dividends to earnings for the relevant periods. (2) Includes amortization of deferred debt issuance costs.