The Monsanto Corporation, a biotechnology and agrochemical company, is founded. Monsanto's first product is saccharin, an artificial sweetener. The company will go on to become the world's largest producer of aspirin in the 1920's.

Over the coming years, Monsanto will produce many harmful and deadly chemicals. These will include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are chemical compounds that later will be found to be highly carcinogenic; Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide used for military weapons; and the Roundup spray, a glyphosate-based herbicide used for crops.

Monsanto will also assist in the development of the first atomic bomb, as well as produce genetically-modified seeds that undermine local economies and seed-saving practices.