Monsanto to build $4.3M R&D lab in Juana Díaz
Agricultural technology company Monsanto will announce today a $4.3 million expansion to convert temporary facilities in Juana Díaz into permanent ones, while expanding its research and development labs on the island, according to stateside reports.
The announcement will be made as Monsanto participates in the annual BIO Convention taking place in Washington, D.C. this week.
Plans call for building a 20,000 square-foot R&D facility, where it will continue to focus on genetically modified corn and cotton, and soybean seed production that is shipped to the U.S. mainland. The expanded operation will add 45 jobs, Kimberly O’Brien, a Monsanto spokeswoman was quoted as saying.
This is the second consecutive year during which an agricultural biotech company has announced expansion plans for the island. Last year, Iowa-based Pioneer Hi-Bred announced plans to add a $6 million bio-farming research lab to its Salinas facilities. The project was completed last week.
Monsanto employs about 200 people in Juana Díaz, plus another couple of hundred seasonal agricultural workers. For its new venture, it will pair up with area universities to scout for personnel.
Monsanto wants to make everyone a slave to GMOS!!! Someone should file a lawsuit against this company!!!