CALMAR - Semis often carry agricultural goods to market.

Monsanto's big rig shows the public how the company will make sure there are plenty of corn and soybeans to haul. Late last week, Monsanto's Mobile Technology Unit spent three days at the Dairy Center, just south of Calmar, showcasing innovations in plant breeding and biotechnology.

Even though Iowa is known for farming, most people aren't involved in production agriculture. Sometimes growers aren't aware of the technology and money it takes to develop seed, company officials said. The custom-made 18-wheeler - featuring a small movie theater and simulated research lab - is traveling the Midwest to provide insight into food production.

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts the world's population will balloon to about 9.3 billion people by 2050, up from about 6.8 billion this year. Bill Kosinski, an ag educator and researcher for Monsanto, said agriculture needs to be more productive and sustainable to keep people fed.

"There's great opportunities for America's farmers. Our goal is to share with (them) the science behind the technology that's making them more productive," Kosinski said.

Monsanto's goal is to double yields of corn, soybeans and cotton by 2030, while reducing nitrogen and water use by a third. The 53-foot-long, 1,000-square-foot trailer is filled with interactive displays to show how that will be done.

Meetings for current and prospective customers in Northeast Iowa were held in conjunction with the trailer stop. Hour-long free tours also were open to the public. Monsanto officials hoped 300 to 500 people would participate.

The tour began with a promotional film highlighting Monsanto's research and development efforts. Super Bowl-winning quarterback and Iowa native Kurt Warner hosted the production. It showed how scientists are using magnetic resonance imaging machines, like those found in hospitals, to analyze the quality of seeds without destroying them and how researchers can analyze seed samples 10 times faster with the help of robotics.

"It's different than what most people think about agriculture," Kosinski said.

After the film, the tour moves into the research lab. Kosinski explained, with the use of props, how the company is creating plants with improved insect and disease protection, as well as drought tolerance, just to name a few advancements.

Monsanto officials say they also hope the trailer spurs sales.

"The goal is to get farmers to plant more of our technology, like the DEKALB brand, and be more profitable doing so," said Kelly Holthaus, Monsanto account manager in Northeast Iowa. The company also is known for Roundup herbicide.

Monsanto, based in St. Louis, spends $2.6 million a day, or nearly $1 billion annually, on research and development. It typically takes eight to 10 years to develop and introduce a single new trait.

That surprised Rodney Ashbacher, who milks 70 Holsteins a few miles south of Calmar. As a Monsanto customer, he took the tour to see what was in store for the future. Though he doesn't like it, Ashbacher can see why he pays well more than $200 a bag for corn seed and expects that to increase.

"It (tour) was pretty impressive," he said. "I didn't know they spend that much time and money."