Monsanto plans to cut another 1,000 jobs worldwide, bringing total planned cuts to 3,600, about 16 per cent of its workforce, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The additional staffing cuts, along with site closures and contract terminations is expected to increase a restructuring charge to a range of about $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion, from $850 million to $900 million, the company said.

Monsanto chief executive Hugh Grant said the seed company's engagement with Swiss rival Syngenta about a possible merger had been "difficult", with little progress achieved.

Monsanto reported a quarterly loss of $253 million, or 56 US cents per share in the three months to November 30th, compared with a profit of $243 million a year earlier.

– (Reuters/Bloomberg)