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- Who’s winning the biotech battle?
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Monsanto, the chief cheerleader of the biotech revolution, has been taken over and broken up, with head man Bob Shapiro pushed into semi-retirement. Fellow biotech giants AstraZeneca and Novartis are to get rid of their agricultural divisions. Consumers around the world are saying a loud ‘no’ to GMOs, and many of the major supermarkets, processors and fast food outlets (even McDonald’s!) have agreed. Top trader Archer Daniels Midland has called on its suppliers to segregate GM from non-GM crops. The Tokyo Grain Exchange now sells futures contracts in non-GM soyabeans. Farmers in the USA (the world leader in growing GMOs) have cut back the amount of GM seed they have planted, and are nervous about the future.
But… the major companies still see the GMO controversy as a ‘blip’ that will pass in 4-7 years, a view echoed by financial analysts. Governments continue to subscribe to a GM future, and give Monsanto & Co their whole-hearted support. Despite a slight decrease in GM plantings, farmers in the USA have still managed to sell all of their GM harvests. Many more countries are now shifting their farms over to GM crops. The industry is confident that if it emphasises the positive benefits of GMOs, consumer and campaigner opposition will dissolve.
So who IS winning the biotech battle? Cutting through the spin, Corporate Watch has spent several months trying to answer exactly this question. This objective, long-term view tells campaigners what has been effective and what not, and gives a clear strategic picture - which will prove essential for the planning of future campaigns. It celebrates the many successes, and highlights areas that need more attention.
Our report will be available from 8th July 2000. So bookmark this page to return to, or alternatively e-mail to request a copy, specifying whether you’d like a paper version, an e-mail version or notification that it is available on the website.
Issues covered include:
• What are the REAL reasons behind the changing shape of the life sciences industry? What role did opposition to GMOs play in this? Does it leave the industry stronger or weaker?
• What are the key trends in the planting of GM crops: how much, which crops and where? What factors have influenced this?
• How much have the markets for soya, maize and other crops been affected? How much further are they likely to be hit? Have US exports of these crops been impacted?
• What is the strategic role of processors / distributors such as Cargill? How are they likely to react to future developments? How do the economics of the food supply chain work?
• What are the trends within government regulation (regulating both growing of GM crops and marketing of GM foods), and within government support generally?
• How is the public debate developing?
• How do different players see these various developments: biotech companies, the agricultural industry, financial analysts, economists, campaigners?
And crucially:
• What do campaigners need to do next to achieve results?
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