ADM Processing Monsanto Soybeans

NEW YORK - Jan 13/06 - SNS -- Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) will process low-linolenic soybeans developed by Monsanto this year at its facility in Frankfort, Indiana, and will market the low-linolenic soybean oil for use by the food industry.

For the 2006 growing season, ADM will be contracting with growers in Indiana for up to 40,000 acres of Vistive soybean production. ADM will pay a premium to producers who grow Vistive soybeans under contract. Then it will crush and sell the processed soybean oil to food companies.

Developed through conventional breeding, Vistive soybeans contain less than 3% linolenic acid as compared to the typical 8% level found in traditional soybeans. The result is a more stable soybean oil, with less need for hydrogenation. Because soybeans with a lower linolenic acid level reduce the need for partial hydrogenation, their application in processed soybean oils will reduce the presence of trans fats in processed soybean oil.