Updated at 12:43 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Monsanto to acquire 2,300 acres of Kunia ag land
Advertiser Staff
Monsanto Co. said today it has entered into an agreement to acquire about 2,300 acres of agricultural-zoned land in Kunia from the James Campbell Co. Monsanto intends to keep this land in long-term agricultural use.Monsanto's local subsidiary, Monsanto Hawaii, specializes in biotech corn seed crops,
Of the total acreage being purchased, approximately 1,600 are suitable for farming. The remaining land area, some 700 acres, is expected to remain as open space. The terms of the sales agreement were not disclosed.
Included on the land is a former World War II internment camp. Monsanto Hawaii intends to work with appropriate community members and organizations to help preserve and protect the site.
"We're extremely pleased to be able to continue our commitment to Hawaii through this transaction," said Terry Miller, business manager for Monsanto Hawaii. "As an agricultural company, we look forward to keeping these lands in productive agricultural use for the long-term."
The land area being purchased was formerly used to grow pineapple and diversified agricultural crops. Monsanto said the acquisition will resuilt in the company significantly expanding its workforce on Oahu. The company has been actively seeking qualified job applicants for positions statewide and recently hired a number of agriculture workers who had been displaced by cutbacks and closures elsewhere in Hawaii.
Monsanto Hawaii currently employs approximately 600 full-time and 100 seasonal employees statewide.
