Monsanto Monopoly? The facts Explained

The Monsanto Monopoly clear and hard facts!

Over the years, the Monsanto company name has been associated with a lot of things.

One of them being an enemy of nature. During the past decade, Monsanto has proven to be a face of corporate evil.

The company’s introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms that have dominated the food chain in America has brought about a lot of controversies.

The debate about the safety of consuming GMOs is a tough one.

That is in terms of the potential dangers it can cause to human health as well as the environment.

Although proponents say that there is not enough research showing GM crops are harmful.

The opponents argue that there is not enough research showing it is safe.
That leaves us wondering whether Monsanto’s intention is to feed or poison the world.

Read on and find out!

The Monsanto Controversy

Credits;

The company Monsanto was founded in 1901 in St. Louis. This company started out as a manufacturer for an artificial sweetener known as saccharin.

However, later in the 1940s, this company ventured into the production of agrochemicals too.

Monsanto was one of those companies that produced the Agent Orange.

This is a defoliant that was linked to causing cancer as well as other diseases.

Agent Orange was used by the US forces in Vietnam. However, Monsanto denied responsibility for how the US forces handle the defoliant.

However, the company was also linked to making the DDT insecticide.

DDT was introduced in the 1970s as the Roundup.

After its introducing, the use of glyphosate soared far and wide across the globe.

People use glyphosate to spray their crops, as well as in forestry and public lawns.

ICYM – Bayer agrees to $10.9bn settlement over Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup#glyphosate https://t.co/mi104eKNVR

— Damian Carrington (@dpcarrington) June 29, 2020

Later on, the company started making some genetically modified Crops that were resistant to the Roundup.

In 1996, the company introduced the “Roundup Ready” crops such as soybeans.

This led to a dramatic jump as the crops could survive the glyphosate. But at the same time kill the weeds.

To date, glyphosate is still a widely used herbicide in the world since the Monsanto’s patent expired in 2000.

Therefore, a wide array of other companies produce herbicide worldwide.

The unfortunate part is that there is a subject of conflicting scientific studies that claim glyphosate causes cancer.

Besides that, the herbicide has also been accused to cause huge damage to the environment.

Hence, contributing to bees disappearing and being a disruptor of endocrine.

How Much of Seed Market Does Monsanto Control?

Over the last 5 years, Monsanto among other five giants of biotech has bought up to around 200 companies.

Hence, all these companies have been allowed to access seeds dominantly.

This has been such a dramatic take over that has left the farmers with very few alternatives.

That being the case, almost 90% of the soybeans in the USA are now genetically modified.

Hence, it has been such a hard time for farmers who are seeking non-GMO seeds.

In that case, these big five biotechnology companies now own a very big percentage of seeds worldwide.

The sad truth is that soy and corn particularly have taken over in most parts of the world.

Hence, eliminating the conventional seeds from the picture effectively.

Alongside that, this has also eliminated a couple of farming practices that are sustainable.

Some of these practices are those that help to provide healthy foods for consumers.

Looking back in 2009, it was evident that GMO soybeans had taken over 91% of the soybean market.

Also, 85% of the corn in the USA and 88% of the cotton was all genetically modified.

Many of the fanatics of GMO argue that GMOs comes with a couple of superior benefits. However, the evidence shows contrary to those claims.

Bayer Buys out Monsanto

Photo Credits; https://althealthworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Dr.-Rath-health.jpg

A while back, two of the largest companies that deal with chemicals and seeds announced a deal.

This is one deal that accelerated the consolidation trend in the global food industry especially.

That being the case, this deal will leave the farmers as well as their consumers at a state of dealing with fewer choices and higher expenses.

For years, Monsanto was known for being that Giant seed company.

However, Monsanto agreed to be bought out by Bayer which is a German-based drug and crop company.

Monsanto was sold off for $66 billion. The sale was successful despite the months of a forth and back deal making.

That is because, their move to sell off the company drew scrutiny from the European Union, criticism from environmental groups among others.

The merge prospects to create a company that commands more than a quarter of the combined world market.

This is in terms of both pesticides and seeds especially in the farm supplies industry that seems to be fast consolidating.

The biggest question everyone has is if Bayer will remain the company name of the merger.

Well, it was said that Monsanto would no longer be a company name.

In fact, the products that have been acquired by Bayer would retain their brand names then be used in the portfolio of the Bayer company.

I can’t deny, this is something that for sure caught most people by surprise.

That is because when a company acquires another, they do not change the company names of the company they wish to buy.

Especially not when it’s well-known like Monsanto.

However, in some cases, like this, it may be the only good option. Since you are already wondering why that is so, read on and I will show you.

Monsanto Monopoly Seed Patents

Credits; Donna Cleveland [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

Ever since the 1980’s Monsanto has proven not to back down from being the world leader of genetically modified seeds.

Along with that, Monsanto owns more than 674 biotechnology patents.

This number is higher than what other biotechnology companies have.

However, considering that Monsanto invests at least $2 billion per day for research and development, this should not take you by surprise.

Bayer/Monsanto settlement cheats Roundup victims:

Even on the high end at $250,000, that sum is not nearly enough to cover cancer treatments and provide redress for pain and suffering. And $5,000? That’s just ridiculously inadequate.

READ: https://t.co/Gcq98P3NRj pic.twitter.com/zqoIkCMA5J

— GMO Free USA (@GMOFreeUSA) June 27, 2020

Monsanto is actually not only patenting its own GMO seeds.

The company has also succeeded in patenting an alarming number of the common crop seeds.

In essence, they have succeeded in patenting the life forms of most crops.
In that case, Monsanto gets ultimate control over the seeds that support the supply of food worldwide.

This is such a powerful position that should not be given to any for-profit company.

But for the first time, is in the hands of Monsanto.

In conjunction with, Syngenta, Bayer, DuPont, and Dow, Monsanto has acquired more than 200 companies.

The sad truth is that these companies are only continually threatening the continuation of sustainable as well as renewable practices that were used in farming previously.

More to that, they threaten the health of every person on the planet through this Monsanto monopoly.

The Impacts of Seed Monopoly.

Monsanto has taken over seed monopoly worldwide, it has forced the farmers to use GMO seeds without a choice.

That is because there are very few alternative seeds sources.

Hence, the world is losing renewable agriculture.

In that, there is no longer the choice of using the old practices where you could save seeds and replanting them during the next season.

The only solution to saving this situation is making patenting of seeds, plants, and genes all illegal.

The GM seeds are all patented and they are sold under very exclusive rights.

In that case, farmers are required to purchase new seeds come every year.

That is because saving the seeds is like an infringement of the patent.

Meaning that anyone who saves GM seeds is required to pay a license in order to be allowed to replant them.

This has then lead to reduce product options as well as increasingly high prices.

As if that’s not all, the cost of pesticides and herbicides that these Genetically Modified crops require are on the increase too.

In the end, the cost of growing GM crops is far more expensive than conventional crops.

What’s more disturbing is that even after growing such an expensive crop, it still has so many health hazards that can be harmful to both humans and animals.

California can’t require cancer label on Roundup weed-killer, judge rules: “The great weight of evidence indicates that glyphosate is not known to cause cancer,” https://t.co/9R6ZDDKvd9

— Robb Fraley (@RobbFraley) June 26, 2020

When the GM crops were first introduced in the market, they promised lower costs, higher yields and reduced use of pesticides.

However, none of that has turned out to be true.

The situation has only escalated with higher prices, lower yields, and more dangerous foods since GM crops were introduced.

Companies Owned by Monsanto

Believe it or not, there is an alarming percentage of companies that are owned by Monsanto.

Ever since the 20th century, the Monsanto Company has worked hard to maintain a large presence in agricultural industrialization.

The only problem is that Monsanto over these years has done more harm than good to the food industry.

This ranges from genetically modified organisms and artificial additives.

For that reason, Monsanto has smeared their name on the landscape of the world’s agricultural sector.

Here are some of the Companies that Monsanto owns;

Aunt Jemima; this is one brand that has brought easily to mix pancakes over the years. However, the company is associated with Monsanto.

The most important recipe in this aunt Jemima’s recipe is thiamine Mononitrate.

Such nitrates have been said to be cancer-causing. Also, they are linked to other health problems that may arise from consuming processed foods.

Betty Crocker; this is a general mills company. It is known for its incredible cakes, cookies, as well as many other dessert mixes.

However, most of the ingredients used are similar to some in Aunt Jemima.

The problem with Betty Crocker is that most of their mixes use enriched Wheat flour and leavening.

All which are said to contain Sodium Aluminium Sulfate.

More to that, most of the mixes use Modified Corn Starch that has been changed from a chemical or enzyme form.

This is often in order to make the food multipurpose. However, this has been known to cause underlying health problems.

Capri Sun; while most people were growing up, Capri sun was always the best excuse for escaping the hot summer sun.

The unfortunate thing is that Capri sun is yet another company that is owned by Monsanto.

Ingredients listed on the Capri sun may seem harmless.

However, most of the crops they use come from farmers that use GMOs in the foods they grow.

This is used to repel insects and pests.

However, it could have some underlying side effects that may be harmful to our bodies when consumed.

Frito-Lay; this is another famous brand that is commonly known for its incredible chips.

Unfortunately, the company has been said to be closely related to Monsanto.

A test done on the contents of Frito-lay tested positive for GMOs as well as harmful weed killers such as Roundup.

Roundup is a product of Monsanto Company that is said to be a worldwide ‘agricultural company’.

Healthy choice; from the name, what we expect is highly healthy foods from this brand.

The healthy choice has been brought to the light that it uses crops that have been grown by farmers who use GMOs in their product.

The healthy choice is a smaller brand of the infamous ConAgra that has been known to use GMOs.

Also, a company that has paid the states in the past years to keep quiet about the issue.

Pepperidge farm; this is a commercial bakery company that is owned by Campbell Soup.

The company has a history of being named in a lawsuit for misleading its consumers.

It was discovered that the company’s cheesy yellow fish snack contained genetically modified soy.

All in all, this product was still labeled natural.

This may not hold such tough legal specifications as labeling it organic. However, it was deemed misleading their customers.

Monsanto is linked to producing and owning the seeds used for growing these crops.

Kellogg’s; this is one brand that makes most peoples favorite cereals.

However, the company has been flagged for using some GMO recipes in making these cereals.

Kellogg’s has been using genetically altered sugar beets produced by Monsanto in its products.

Genetically produced sugar beets harm the health of people.

At the same time, it tampers with the bees making them disappear.

Bees play a vital role in cross-pollination hence enhancing the growth of crops.

Hence, making it uncertain for crops to grow consistently over time.

Stouffer’s; this is a widely known company that makes frozen prepared foods for families.

However, this brand is said to be linked to Monsanto.

Stouffers is one company that has been under scrutiny for producing genetically modified foods.

Such includes; modified corn-starch and wheat flour that has been bleached.

For many years, Stouffers has been a leading producer for family foods.

But with such allegations, it would be better to rethink your selection for your family foods.

For the sake of your health.

Besides the above-mentioned companies, there is also a list of other companies that are owned by Monsanto.

They include;
Other Companies Owned by Monsanto;

⦁ Aurora Foods, Best Foods, Bisquick, Banquet, Cadbury,

Carnation, Coca-Cola, Chef Boyardee, Duncan Hines,

Delicious Brands Cookies, Famous Amos, Green Giant,

Heinz, Flowers Industries, Hormel.

Hellmann’s, Hershey, Hunt’s, Holsum,

Hungry Jack, Jiffy, KC Masterpiece, Jiffy, Interstate Bakeries, Keebler, Kool-Aid, Kraft, Knoor, Kid Cuisine, Lipton,

Lean Cuisine, Loma Linda Foods, Minute Maid, Marie Callender’s.

Morningstar Farms, Nabisco, Mrs. Butterworth’s, Nestle,

Nature Valley, Ore-Ida, Ocean Spray, Orville Redenbacher’s,

Pepsi, Philip Morris, Pop Secret, Pillsbury, Post Cereals, PowerBar brand.

Pringles, Prego, Quaker, Ragu, Procter & Gamble,

Rice-A-Roni & Pasta Roni, Totino’s, Tombstone frozen pizza, Schweppes,

Weight Watchers Smart Ones, Uncle Ben’s, V8, and Unilever.

So what can you do as a “Concerned Consumer”?

If you are concerned that your favorite brand is linked to the production of genetically modified foods, then it’s only safe if you get on to the organic train.

If possible, stay there. There are lots of organic products that are certified by the USDA and are safe for consumption.

However, if you come across organic processed foods, you better keep off as they still might be linked to Monsanto somehow.

For that reason, it’s safe that you consider getting your foods to form seasonal, local producers that you trust. Another option may be to consider starting your own vegetable garden.

Do all you can to empower yourself. To be honest it’s my primary reason for creating this site!

Anything that is either canned or packaged cannot be fully trusted.

When you keep off from brands that are related to Monsanto, you help strengthen the forces against agricultural practices that are dangerous.

In Summary…
The merger of Monsanto and Bayer has raised so many concerns among consumers and producers.

That is because such a merger could cause such massive negative implication to the environment.

Also, the growth of GMOs has been proven to be harmful to the ecosystem.

This is by eradicating some of the essential pollinators that facilitate the growth of conventional crops.

GM crops have proven to cause soil degradation and development of pests that are hard to eradicate.

And now with the merger between Monsanto and Bayer, it will be even harder for the farmers to engage in organic and regenerative farming.

This will lead to mass contamination as conventional seeds will become less and less available.

The direction we are headed is that the food production industry will soon become fully reliant on genetically modified crops.

What we will have in the end is a supply chain that is chemical ridden. As well as a fully damaged environment.