ST. LOUIS (July 24, 2018) –  Monsanto Company has been named to Diversity Best Practices (DBP) 2018 Inclusion Index, which provides data and insight into how participating companies fare in the areas of best diversity and inclusion practices in recruitment, retention and advancement; company culture and demographic transparency.

This is the second year for the index. Out of 124 organizations that applied for the recognition, only 74 made the listing. Monsanto, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., was among 31 companies to receive a score of at least 81 percent, earning top recognition for superior achievement and qualifying it as a Leading Index Organization. The remaining 42 companies earned scores of at least 65 percent to be included on the index. The results, which will be published in the August/September edition of Working Mother magazine, reveal opportunities for all organizations to amplify their diversity and inclusion efforts for greater effectiveness.

“Inclusion and diversity are vital to effectively serve our customers around the world,” said Melissa Harper, Vice President, Global Talent and Inclusion & Diversity for Monsanto. “Diverse perspectives help us see farmers’ challenges in new and different ways, supporting our efforts to create innovation and agricultural solutions, while also delivering a great place to work.”

Harper, along with Monsanto’s former Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant, were also recognized as two of the Top 10 Diversity Leaders among companies named to this year’s index.

“It’s wonderful to see how the DBP Inclusion Index has grown in its second year with more companies willing to share their progress and workforce demographics,” said Deborah Munster, Executive Director of Diversity Best Practices. “We commend their transparency as they continue to strive for excellence in creating an inclusive environment for all employees.”

Of the companies listed as a DBP Leading Index Organization:

• 90 percent require interview slates for job openings to have diverse applicants and that recruiters ask culturally competent questions,
• 87 percent have succession planning at top levels in talent development for women, racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, veterans and LGBTQ employees,
• 84 percent provide special talent development programs for employees who lead business resource groups, and
• 58 percent compensate managers for diversity and inclusion results.

More information on the 2018 Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index can be found at www.workingmother.com  Diversity Best Practices conducted online surveys from December 2017 to March 2018 to determine the index listing. DBP is a division of Working Mother Media, which publishes Working Mother Magazine.

Monsanto’s on-going dedication to providing an inclusive and productive workplace that is supportive and high performing has continuously led third party organizations such as Fortune Magazine, DiversityInc,  Working Mother Magazine,  Human Rights Campaign and Computerworld Magazine to consistently recognize the modern agriculture company as an employer of choice.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto is committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce seeds for fruits, vegetables and key crops—such as corn, soybeans, and cotton—that help farmers have better harvests while using water and other important resources more efficiently. We work to find sustainable solutions for soil health, help farmers use data to improve farming practices and conserve natural resources, and provide crop protection products to minimize damage from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. To learn more about Monsanto, our commitments and our more than 20,000 dedicated employees, please visit monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter^® at twitter.com/MonsantoCo.