Urge the DOJ to block these seed and chemical company megamergers >>

Over the last few decades, a handful of agrichemical giants have acquired much of the world’s seed supply. Just five companies – Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, Dow and Bayer – account for 62% of world seed sales. 

Now, two of the world’s largest pesticide-seed companies—Monsanto and German pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer AG—may merge into a still bigger entity. Two other mega-deals are also in the works. If these mergers go through, the result would be an unprecedented oligopoly of just four mega-corporations that control an astounding 73% of the world’s combined market in seeds and pesticides: Bayer-Monsanto, Dow-DuPont, Syngenta-ChemChina and BASF. What would this mean for the future of farming? It doesn’t look good.

That’s why we’ve joined with the Organic Seed Alliance, Farm Aid, RAFI and others to urge the Department of Justice (DOJ) to block these proposed mergers. Join our letter to the DOJ >>

This consolidation of seed control has already resulted in higher seed prices and declining choice of seed varieties, thousands of farmers sued for seed-saving, and sharply increased dependence on toxic pesticides – both weed-killing herbicides and insecticides.

The Department of Justice has ample reason to block this merger of giants on traditional anti-trust grounds. The combination of Bayer and Monsanto would diminish competition in the increasingly intertwined markets for seeds and pesticides, reduce socially beneficial innovation, increase seed prices, and reduce seed choices for farmers (particularly non-GE and untreated seed options). All of these impacts would be exacerbated if the two other proposed mergers – Dow-DuPont and Syngenta-ChemChina – also go through. 

The DOJ must act to ensure that America’s diverse farmers have the seed they need. Without action we risk food insecurity, endanger the future economic success of American agriculture, and ignore consumer demand for a healthier, more just, and sustainable food system. 

Urge the DOJ to block these seed and chemical company megamergers >>

Thanks for everything you do,

The Center for Food Safety team