Corporate 'Feeding Frenzy'

Monsanto Sets Off Corporate 'Feeding Frenzy'



Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, is attempting to swallow up the chemical operations of Syngenta, the world’s largest producer of pesticides and other farm inputs. The proposed deal signals a change in focus for the agricultural giant, and could have ripple effects across farm country.

By its own admission, Monsanto lags behind in chemistry research. To boost its research in chemistry, and possibly find new ways to combine chemicals and biotech crops, Monsanto wants to buy the Swiss chemical company.

Monsanto’s not the only corporation angling for control of Syngenta. Lately, Syngenta’s chemical division has been the belle of the agrichemical ball, with a few potential suitors. Industry insiders say a competitor in chemical production, Germany-based BASF, is preparing a bid as well. 

No matter how the cards fall, farmers will feel the results. The corporations proclaim that deals like this would allow them to bring new technologies to the farm faster and more efficiently, while academics and watchdogs ring the alarm for antitrust officials to crack down.

The deal-making between Monsanto and Syngenta has so far been decidedly one-sided, and uncharacteristically public. Twice now Syngenta has rebuked Monsanto’s offers, citing antitrust concerns. Syngenta representatives have taken to posting letters on their official website that lay out the proposed deal from Monsanto executives.

“This has been a very unusual deal. I’m kinda used to the situation where two parties meet, they argue, you usually walk out once or twice,” says Monsanto’s Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley. He made the comments to a group of journalists as part of a National Press Foundation program co-sponsored by the Organic Trade Association, the AARP Foundation, the American Farm Bureau Federation and Monsanto.

“This has been a deal that has all played out in the public,” Fraley says.

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