Monsanto Co. plans to make its operations carbon neutral by 2021.
A key component of Monsanto's plan calls for working with the thousands of farmers who use its seeds, herbicides and pesticides. The company is developing an incentives program to encourage environmentally-friendly production methods.
Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant told The Associated Press ahead of Tuesday's announcement that part of the agricultural company's effort is also basic "good housekeeping." That includes stricter emissions control and conserving energy at offices.
Monsanto also pledges within its seed production operations to take steps to reduce its carbon footprint through breeding, plant biotechnology, conservation tillage and use of cover crops.
To be carbon neutral, Monsanto must reduce its net emission of climate-changing carbon to zero.
