Monsanto Hawaii is transferring its current Kauai operations to its facilities on Oahu and Maui by a target date of May.

“;It's efficiency,”; said Monsanto spokesman Paul Koehler. “;With the operations that are there, in terms of size and scale, we can achieve the same if not better results on Maui and Oahu because they have a larger footprint.”;

The transfer will affect about 30 positions on Kauai, although all affected employees have been invited to apply for other positions within Monsanto Hawaii. Koehler said there are more than enough openings to accommodate the transferred employees.

Monsanto, a global company specializing in biotech corn seed crops, made the announcement to Kauai employees this morning, and is also offering a severance package option.

Monsanto Hawaii has been expanding its operations and workforce over the past several years, particularly on Oahu, Maui and Molokai.

Monsanto in 2007 purchased 2,300 acres of former Del Monte Fresh Produce Hawaii land from the James Campbell Co. and expanded its lease of lands on Molokai.

Currently, the company employees about 800 residents statewide.