An April 8 letter (“Will lawmakers put the people before corporations?”) included some very misleading statements about our company and product.

The letter claims some people are concerned about living near Monsanto’s fields. Monsanto Hawaii’s roots in Maui County go back 50 years and we are committed to being a good neighbor. For anyone who’d like to know more about our farming practices, we invite you to please take the time to learn more about who we are, what we do and what we stand for.

At www.MonsantoHawaii.com, we offer a lot of information about how we steward our farms, employ modern technologies to manage our fields, and support our community through volunteerism, community events and local school functions. Neighbors and community members are also welcome to request a free tour, come see our farms firsthand, and ask about our agricultural practices.

The letter also erroneously implied that Roundup may have caused some serious health ailments. We would never wish illness on anyone, but feel it’s important to offer accurate information.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup products, has been safely used in commercial products for 40 years. Numerous expert reviews in the U.S. and internationally have all concluded that glyphosate is safe when used according to the label. The U.S. EPA recently concluded in its draft human health risk assessment that “glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans. The agency’s assessment found no other meaningful risks to human health when the product is used according to the pesticide label.”

We recognize there may be questions about our company and are happy to share information. Thank you to the many folks who’ve already visited our farms.

Dan Clegg

Business Operations Lead

Monsanto Hawaii