Monsanto's agricultural herbicide, Roundup, destroys milkweeds -- a plant critical to the survival of the monarch butterfly. In 1996, after completing their 3,000-mile journey from Mexico to the US, the monarch migration numbered one billion. In 2014, that number fell to fewer than 35 million – a 90 percent decline. Tierra Curry, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, notes this would be equivalent to "losing every living person in the US, except those in Florida and Ohio."

What's behind the decline? Environmental accountability is usually hard to assign but, in this case, it is clear: Monsanto -- a company that made nearly $15 billion in 2013 -- profits by poisoning milkweed.

Over the past two decades, 80 percent of the Midwest's milkweed has been removed by farmers using Monsanto's glyphosate weed-killer (to protect corn and soybean crops genetically modified to survive spraying with Monsanto's herbicides!).

When the monarchs return to the US in February and March, the butterflies feed, mate and spin their cocoons only on milkweed plants. No milkweed, no monarchs.

According to US National Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, "It's the weed control that is driving eradication of the milkweed plant." This is why, on February 9, the NFWS pledged $3.2 million to save the monarch butterfly from extinction by replanting milkweed.

Monsanto calls itself "A Sustainable Agriculture Company" and admits that milkweed "is the only plant monarch caterpillars will eat." In it's corporate statement, "Helping Protect the Monarch Butterfly," the company claims it is "committed to … restoring habitat" to protect the monarchs – but only so long as this is done "outside farm fields," by replanting milkweed on "government-owned land" and in roadside ditches.

Growing concern over the butterfly's extinction has prompted the government to consider listing the monarch as a "threatened species" under the Endangered Species Act. Monsanto's response? While this "makes for a great news headline," the company says, "It doesn't do anything to help solve the problem."

So what is the solution?

The monarch's spring migration is about to begin. The only way to save these majestic insects is to plant milkweed. Lots of it.

The government already has pledged to start replanting milkweed on 200,000 American acres.

It's time for Monsanto to join forces with the NFWS and match – or exceed – Washington's $3.2 million fund for a National Monarch Recovery Program.

Action: Contact Monsanto CEO Huge Grant

Monarchs are in historic decline and Monsanto's chemicals are a major cause. The next few years could determine whether our children will ever again experience the beauty of a monarch in flight. Monsanto needs to immediately match – or exceed – the government's commitment to restore 200,000 acres of milkweed.

Monsanto Company
800 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63167

(314) 694-1000