Genetix RoundUp ™

DuPont elope with Monsanto
On April 2nd Monsanto and DuPont announced that they had entered into an agreement where by both companies will freely share their patented GM-crop technologies and will drop a number of outstanding lawsuits. The agreement means that between them, DuPont (already the worlds largest seed company and fifth largest agro-chemical company) and Monsanto (already the worlds second largest seed company and second largest agro-chemical company), will control 41% of GM crop patents and 93% of the global GM seed market. The particular nature of this 'special relationship' has neatly circumvented anti-trust regulators. Both companies get the full benefits of pooling their resources without falling foul of anti-monopoly legislation that would have otherwise prohibited, or set stringent conditions on, a formal merger or acquisition. The ETC group (formerly RAFI) have accused this informal, and therefore unregulated, coupling of two of the world's Gene Giants of being the 'corporate equivalent of unprotected sex'. Monsanto and DuPont get all the fun, and profits, of sharing each others secrets, while farmers worldwide are left to suffer the disadvantages of an increasingly monopolised seed and chemical industry.
(For more on this story go to 'Monsanto and DuPont: Living in Sinergy' by ETC Group available online at www.rafi.org/documents/nr2002apr9.pdf)

FDA in bed with Monsanto (again)
In a rerun of the 2000 Aventis 'Starlink' contamination scandal, it emerged in mid April that large amounts of oil seed rape (canola) currently on sale in the US may be contaminated with low levels of an unapproved Monsanto GM crop line. GT200 is a variety of herbicide tolerant oil seed rape that has not been cleared for commercial growing or consumption in the US. Instead of tackling the problem at source by removing GT200 contaminated products from the market, Monsanto have decided to get the legislation changed. If the contamination is no longer illegal, in their eyes it is no longer a problem. Monsanto approached the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) admitting the potential for accidental contamination of US canola seed, and requesting that the contaminated crop be declared legal. The USDA are awaiting advice from that pillar of independent scientific thinking the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The incestuous nature of the revolving door of personnel between the FDA and Monsanto is well documented elsewhere. And - surprise, surprise - recent articles in the US business press suggest that the FDA will announce their formal approval of GT200 for sale and consumption in the US.

This case illustrates the complete inability, and apparent unwillingness, of GM corporations to contain their crops once they are being grown on a commercial scale. According to the Agribusiness Examiner, Monsanto think that, 'the problem may have occurred because the company allowed the seeds to get mixed up and bred together'. The industry, aided and abetted by the regulators, is attempting to erode the idea that GM contamination is a problem.

Bayer swallows Aventis
By the time you read this article, German based chemicals and pharmaceuticals company Bayer AG are likely to have completed their purchase of Aventis CropScience. The 7.25 billion euro deal has been given the green light by a European Commission anti-trust enquiry, subject to Bayer selling off several key parts of the combined Bayer and Aventis crop science businesses within six months. Bayer have to make 600 million euros worth of disposals, double the amount anticipated, including several key products. German chemical company BASF look likely to snap up any juicy tit bits that Bayer have to get rid of. As yet it is unclear whether UK facilities owned by Aventis CropScience face closure as a result of the Bayer purchase. It seems certain that the controversial GM crops division of Aventis CropScience will be part of the new Bayer CropScience when it is launched within the next few weeks.