UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                       ---------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURTIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2002

                                MONSANTO COMPANY
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

     Delaware                      001-16167                     43-1878297
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(State or Other            (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
Jurisdiction of                                              Identification No.)
Incorporation)

                          800 North Lindbergh Boulevard
                            St. Louis, Missouri 63167
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               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (314) 694-1000




ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

     On December 18,  2002,  Monsanto  Company  announced  that Chief  Executive
Officer  Hendrik A.  Verfaillie  submitted his  resignation,  as Chief Executive
Officer,  president and director of the board,  effective  immediately.  A press
release dated December 18, 2002, issued by Monsanto Company, is attached to this
report as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(c)      Exhibits

99       Press Release, dated December 18, 2002, issued by Monsanto Company



                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  December 18, 2002
                                       MONSANTO COMPANY


                                       By:  /s/ Michael L. DeCamp
                                            -------------------------------
                                            Name:  Michael L. DeCamp
                                                   Assistant Secretary




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number            Description
-----             -----------

99                Press Release, dated December 18, 2002, issued by Monsanto
                  Company