Monsanto (now Bayer)

Monsanto (now Bayer)
Name	Monsanto (now Bayer)
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Agrochemicals, Biotechnology, Seeds
Fate	Acquired by Bayer AG (2018)
Founded	1901
Founder	John Francis Queeny
Headquarters	St. Louis, Missouri
Key people	Robert Shapiro; Hugh Grant; W. Edwin "Ned" H. McDowell; Ivan F. Bentz
Products	Herbicides; Pesticides; Genetically modified seeds; Seed traits
Revenue	see section "Business Operations and Financials"

Monsanto (now Bayer) Monsanto (now Bayer) was an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901. The company became prominent for products such as DDT-era pesticides, the herbicide glyphosate marketed as Roundup, and genetically modified seed traits like Bt corn and Roundup Ready soybeans. Monsanto's activities intersected with regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, while drawing scrutiny from advocacy groups including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and Center for Food Safety.

History

Monsanto was founded in St. Louis, Missouri by John Francis Queeny in 1901 and expanded into chemical production supplying companies like Procter & Gamble and military contracts during World War I and World War II. In the postwar era Monsanto diversified into polymers with connections to firms such as Dow Chemical Company and research institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley. The company entered agricultural biotechnology through mergers and research collaborations with entities including DuPont and Ciba-Geigy, and pursued intellectual property strategies invoking the United States Patent and Trademark Office and litigation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Products and Technologies

Monsanto developed and commercialized chemical products including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Agent Orange components during the Vietnam War, and the herbicide glyphosate marketed under the Roundup brand. In agricultural biotechnology it introduced genetically engineered traits such as Bt toxin expression in maize and herbicide tolerance in soybean and canola, deploying seed technologies protected by patent families litigated in forums like the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Research partnerships involved academic centers such as John Innes Centre and corporations including Syngenta and Bayer AG prior to acquisition.

Controversies and Legal Issues

Monsanto was subject to litigation over products such as PCBs with cases adjudicated in the United States Supreme Court and mass tort claims in state courts like California Superior Court. Claims over glyphosate led to jury verdicts in San Francisco Superior Court and appeals in federal courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, with plaintiffs represented by firms linked to high-profile mass tort consolidation similar to multidistrict litigation at the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Intellectual property enforcement against farmers for alleged seed saving resulted in disputes in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and drew attention from agricultural organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and regulators like the United States Department of Agriculture.

Corporate Acquisitions and Ownership

Monsanto engaged in acquisitions including seed companies and biotechnology startups, competing with conglomerates such as Bayer AG, BASF, and DuPont Pioneer. In 2018 Bayer AG completed a takeover of Monsanto, a transaction reviewed by antitrust authorities including the European Commission and the United States Department of Justice. The acquisition prompted divestitures overseen by regulators in jurisdictions including Brazil and China and sparked lobbying interactions with legislative bodies such as the United States Congress and advisory committees of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Environmental and Health Impacts

Environmental controversies involved persistent organic pollutants like PCBs with remediation cases managed under frameworks such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and regulatory oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency. Health-related disputes over glyphosate invoked assessments from international agencies such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer and national bodies like Health Canada and the European Food Safety Authority, generating divergent risk evaluations and public debates featuring activist networks like Farm Aid and scientific forums at institutions such as Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University.

Business Operations and Financials

Monsanto operated global seed and chemical supply chains servicing markets in regions including United States, Brazil, Argentina, India, and China, coordinating with distribution partners and agricultural retailers such as Tractor Supply Company and cooperatives represented by CHS Inc.. Financial performance prior to acquisition was reported to investors and regulators via filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and influenced by commodity cycles on exchanges like the Chicago Board of Trade and CBOT. Following the 2018 acquisition, legacy Monsanto assets were integrated into Bayer AG's Crop Science division and financial reporting consolidated under Bayer AG's annual statements overseen by auditors and shareholders in venues such as the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Category:Agricultural companies