Monsanto Company was a U.S.-based agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology company headquartered in the St. Louis, Missouri area. It developed and manufactured crop protection chemicals—most notably glyphosate herbicides sold under the Roundup brand—and commercialized genetically engineered seeds and traits in major crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola. Its trait portfolio included herbicide tolerance (e.g., Roundup Ready) and insect resistance (Bt), as well as systems built around dicamba-tolerant crops (Xtend). Monsanto operated global R&D, breeding, and production facilities with a strong focus on plant genomics and associated digital agriculture tools.
In 2018, Bayer AG acquired Monsanto and integrated its operations into the Bayer Crop Science division; the Monsanto name has since been retired. Founded in 1901 as a chemical manufacturer, the company evolved through restructurings and divestitures to concentrate on agriculture and seeds prior to the acquisition.