Mega-mergers between agricultural giants may lead to nearly 60 percent of the world's seed supply being controlled by three companies, with sub-Saharan African farmers being caught in the squeeze and threatened with even deeper levels of poverty. The potential consequences of a series of mega-mergers, if approved by EU and US regulators, will leave three companies (Bayer, Dow, and ChemChina) in control of "nearly 60% of the world's seeds, nearly 70% of the chemicals and pesticides needed to grow food and nearly all of the world's GM crop genetic traits," according to The Guardian:
These proposed mega-mergers, along with mergers of the world's largest fertilizer companies and investment by farm equipment companies in new technologies will contribute to what is being described as a "new era" consolidation of global agriculture:
"Alarmed EU, US and Latin American consumer, environment and anti-trust groups this week claimed that the three mega deals have the potential to concentrate political and financial power dangerously and could force more countries to adopt a single model of farming that excludes or impoverishes small farmers."
These proposed mega-mergers, along with mergers of the world's largest fertilizer companies and investment by farm equipment companies in new technologies will contribute to what is being described as a "new era" consolidation of global agriculture:
"Alarmed EU, US and Latin American consumer, environment and anti-trust groups this week claimed that the three mega deals have the potential to concentrate political and financial power dangerously and could force more countries to adopt a single model of farming that excludes or impoverishes small farmers."