Monsanto is a global agriculture company developing products and tools for farmers around the world grow crops using biotechnology. The history of today’s Monsanto, an agricultural company, began in 2002 after it was divested from Pharmacia Corporation. Agricultural biotechnology was firmly established as the new company’s strategic research focus in an effort to improve farmer livelihoods by increasing their profitability through yield enhancements. The company produces it's own brands of GM products including Yieldguard and Roundup Ready.

(active 1970) Toxicologist Cockburn studied at Brunel University in Biochemistry, Toxicology and Cardiotoxicity before becoming head taxicologist at Beecham Pharmaceuticals and later AgrEvo. Cockburn is former Director of Scientific Outreach Monsanto Europe and Africa where he was involved in developing science based guidance for the safety evaluation of proteins and crops, through International Stakeholder, Governmental and Non-Governmental Groups. For the past 13 years, Cockburn has worked as a registered taxicologist at Toxico-Logical Consulting Ltd in Hertfordshire where he is consulted on all aspects of toxicology including; food, agrochemical, biotech and chemical substances.