By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

PEORIA, Ill. — Monsanto spends nearly $2 million per day in research of plant breeding, biotechnology and other topics vital to the future of America’s farmers - and the company now has a mobile showcase to exhibit their research and offer producers an opportunity to preview products in the pipeline.

The Monsanto Mobile Technology Unit, a custom-made 18-wheeler that can run on biofuels, is touring the United States and will make a stop at the 27th annual Greater Peoria Farm Show, Dec. 2-4, at the Peoria Civic Center.

The show is billed as the largest indoor farm show in Illinois and features nearly 1,000 exhibits and displays.

Monsanto’s Mobile Technology Unit will be housed in the Peoria Civic Center’s newly expanded Exhibition Hall.

Officials with Midwest Shows, Inc., are proud to be able to bring the Monsanto Mobile Technology Unit to the show, according to Midwest Shows’ marketing director, John Sampson.

“Monsanto is visiting 40 sites around the country with their mobile tech unit, and we’re honored to be one of them,” Sampson said. “The tech unit will introduce producers to a lot of Monsanto’s existing research results, and allow them a glimpse of the future regarding new products and technology.”

Monsanto’s Mobile Technology Unit is described as a 53-foot-long traveling exhibit with 1,000 square feet of self-contained exhibit space.

Company representatives will guide visitors through the exhibit in order to showcase Monsanto’s continuing research efforts and point out how they benefit farmers and the ag industry.

“As a company focused solely on agriculture, Monsanto is committed to helping farmers be successful,” said Jim Zimmer, vice president of U.S. branded business for Monsanto, in a press release about the mobile tech unit earlier this year.

“That is why we are so strongly committed to developing new technologies that can help farmers increase their yields, improve their profitability and participate in new market opportunities for their crops.”

Sampson said farmers entering the exhibit should allow around 45 minutes for a complete tour.

“The tour begins with an introductory address from (Arizona Cardinal quarterback) Kurt Warner, who is a Burlington, Iowa farm boy,” Sampson said.

From there, a guided tour through exhibit areas will feature displays, videos and interactive elements pertaining to breeding, crop analytics, biotechnology, product pipeline and ethanol.
Visitors will learn how Monsanto seed breeders utilize exotic seed germplasm from across the globe in developing new crops, and be able to check out the development of new bio-tech genes that provide improved weed and insect control and improved stress tolerance to produce higher yields.

“When you leave the presentation you then enter a scaled-down replica of some of Monsanto’s research facilities” including an on-site ethanol production demonstration unit, according to Sampson.
While a lot of farmers tour Monsanto’s Chesterfield Village laboratories and greenhouses in St. Louis each year, Monsanto is excited to be able to take proof of their commitment to plant breeding research and development “to the people” via their Mobile Technology Unit.

“The Mobile Technology Unit is a way to demonstrate that commitment to our customers because we realize our success depends on their success,” stated Zimmer.

For more on the Peoria Farm Show and some of its other exhibitors, visit online at www.farmshowsusa.com