WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Nov. 16, 2012) - The Monsanto Fund (www.monsantofund.org) has announced the winners of its Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program, a program aimed at strengthening rural communities by providing the opportunity for farmers to secure a $2,500 grant for their favourite community charity or not-for-profit organization.

A total of 58 winners were drawn from over 160 applications received from farmers in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Northeastern B.C. In total, The Monsanto Fund will direct $145,000 to charitable and not-for-profit groups who are making a difference in the lives of rural residents.

"We are pleased with the response to our first year and look forward to building awareness and having many more farmers nominating groups or projects in their communities," said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada. "We know there are endless needs in many rural communities and who better to give us ideas about how to best allocate these grants, than farmers? We know the grants will be put to good use to help strengthen local programs and services."

Launched last summer, the program gave farmers across Canada the opportunity to nominate a local charity or not-for-profit group in their community by visiting www.CanadasFarmers.com and completing an entry between June 1, 2012 and September 30, 2012. The winners were chosen by random draw on November 1, 2012. Jordan said the current plan is to continue the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program in 2013 with the continued support of the Monsanto Fund. Farmers interested in the program can visit www.canadasfarmers.com for more information.

"Monsanto is fully committed to supporting rural communities and farmers across the country, whether providing them with great products that benefit their farming operation or offering our support to causes that matter to them," said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada. "The Monsanto Fund grants provided to the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program allow farmers to get actively involved and they are a great complement to our other corporate giving activities in rural Canada."

The program has also been well-received and appreciated by farmers based on feedback from some of the winners upon learning their charity was selected in the random draw. "This is such great news," said Daryl Rush of Lockie Farms in Ontario. "Thank you so much for the support in our community. It means so much to us."

About The Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. You can learn more at www.monsantofund.org.

About Monsanto

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto family. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.