Cornucopia’s Take: While corporations continue to lock down patents on plant characteristics and merger mania encompasses agribusiness seed companies, forward-minded breeders worldwide are promising the traits and genes they work with to future generations, free of charge. HOW “OPEN SOURCE” SEED PRODUCERS FROM THE U.S. TO INDIA ARE CHANGING GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION Ensia by Rachel… Read more »
Search Results for: bayer-monsanto merger
Cornucopia Supports Sen. Booker’s Bill to Pause Food and Agribusiness Mergers
Cornucopia’s Take: With the mergers of the last two years, three companies now control almost two-thirds of the commodity crop seeds and nearly 70% of the agricultural chemicals and pesticides in the world. Four companies now control 85% of the U.S. corn seed market. Senator Booker’s bill, which Cornucopia gladly supports, would put large mergers… Read more »
Organic Industry Watchdog Asks DOJ to Block Merger
France’s Groupe Danone’s purchase of WhiteWave would combine Stonyfield, Horizon and Wallaby to Dominate the Organic Dairy Market The French dairy giant, Groupe Danone (Dannon in the U.S.) has announced the proposed acquisition of WhiteWave Foods for approximately $10 billion. The deal would combine the world’s largest organic yogurt brand, Stonyfield, with Wallaby, a rapidly… Read more »
Judge Forcing Monsanto’s Transparency in Court
Cornucopia’s Take: Monsanto’s glyphosate may be at the center of a controversy on par with tobacco and asbestos. With people lining up to sue the company, the judge is refusing to allow key documents to remain sealed, including some which may suggest a top EPA official was working in the interest of Monsanto rather than… Read more »
Dr. Phil Howard Updates Seed Industry Graphic, December 2018
Dr. Phil Howard, the creator of the popular Who Owns Organics infographic, updated his work on corporate consolidation in the global seed industry in December 2018. The graphic below shows ownership changes occurring from 1996, when the top three corporations in the global seed industry controlled 22% of the industry, to 2018. Note that the size of… Read more »
Seed Industry Structure – Dr. Phil Howard
Dr. Phil Howard, the creator of the popular Who Owns Organics infographic, updated his work on corporate consolidation in the global seed industry in December 2018. The graphic below shows ownership changes occurring from 1996, when the top three corporations in the global seed industry controlled 22% of the industry, to 2018. Note that the size of… Read more »
Cornucopia Calls Danone-WhiteWave Merger Bad for Farmers and Consumers
Cornucopia’s Take: Knowledgeable organic industry observer looks at Cornucopia’s call for the blocking of the Danone-WhiteWave merger. Organic Watchdog Group Aims to Disrupt Danone-WhiteWave Merger to Save Organic Dairy Farmers Organic Authority by Jill Ettinger Source: Guy Montag In response to the recent announcement that Group Danone would purchase WhiteWave for more than $10 billion, organic… Read more »
Farmers Expected to Double Dicamba-Ready Acreage to Prevent Drift Damage
Cornucopia’s Take: Although reports of less dicamba drift damage to crops in the 2018 season seem promising, many farmers are planting dicamba resistant (GMO) crops preventatively. University of Missouri professor Kevin Bradley has been tracking the rise in dicamba damage and notes growing damage to trees in areas where dicamba is used the most. Dicamba… Read more »
As Commodity Prices Drop, GMO Seed Prices Continue to Rise
Cornucopia’s Take: GMO crops were sold as a miracle to some farmers, making weeding and extra tilling unnecessary. Over time many GMO farmers have reverted to conventional seeds to save money, as GMO yields stagnate and superweeds emerge, plus markets are growing for non-GMO foods. Monsanto’s impending sale to Bayer ignores these mounting concerns. Behind… Read more »
Family-Farm Advocates Call for U.S. to ‘Bust Up Big Ag’
GOP senators warn of dangers of government intervention in agriculture The Iowa Independent By Lynda Waddington ANKENY, Iowa — Whether they realized it or not, the roughly 250 family farmers, workers and consumers gathered Thursday night fired off their own point-by-point response to a letter from two Republican Senators that urged the U.S. departments of… Read more »
