This is not considered “new” news but it may be for some. There is a documentary entitled “Harvest of Greed” that speaks of investigating a number of the issues brought about by the merger of Monsanto and Bayer AG. Monsanto accepted Bayer’s $66 billion takeovers, being the largest all-cash buyout on record.
Bayer will sell some of its assets to BASF, the German competitor, as a condition of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) approval. Soybean, cottonseed and glufosinate weed killer that overlapped with Monsanto’s was an antitrust point. These two companies combined used to control nearly 60% of the American cottonseed market. About 80% of corn and 90% of soybeans in the U.S. are owned by Monsanto. It was also demanded that Bayer eliminate about $7.4 billion worth of its various firms to ensure fair competition.
This new entity is now the largest seed and pesticide company in the world and controls more than 25% of the global seed and pesticide supply. It generated deep concerns and was believed that the takeover posed a threat to all Americans and should be blocked. Farmers have had concern over what this merger might do to prices, as less competition will tend to lead to price hikes.
The price of a bag of seed corn rose from $80 to $300 over the past decade. This merger is predicted to make matters worse and the consolidation will result in lower quality products by reducing the incentive for innovation. Even organic farmers have concerns.
Bayer AG’s CEO states it’s not their plan or ambition to prevent farmers from having a choice, but it would be very naive to believe him. These companies want only to make more money by raising prices.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) campaigned against Bayer called Billions Against Bayer. OCA called for consumers around the world to join the boycott. The two companies insist that glyphosate is a very safe product when used properly. This is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s weed killer Roundup along with other herbicide formulations.
There are recent government tests that show Roundup is more toxic than glyphosate in isolation. This was the result of toxicology testing by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP).
In October 2016 Monsanto was on trial for crimes against nature and humanity in the Netherlands. They concluded Monsanto violated human rights to food, health, a healthy environment, and freedom indispensable for independent scientific research, ecocide should be recognized as a crime in International law and human rights and environmental laws are undermined by corporate-friendly trade and investment regulation. Bayer insists they stand for transparency, reliability and a different style of debate.
Bayer also has a long, dark and destructive history of genocide. The company was intimately involved with the human experimental atrocities committed by Mengele at Auschwitz. Bayer purchased 150 healthy female prisoners for use as test subjects for a new sleep drug. All subjects died and another order was placed for prisoners. Some board members were arrested while others escaped and helped to create the Federal Reserve. Is this really a merger that should have happened? SHAME!!
Dr Fredda Branyon