Groups Urge New U.S. Attorney General to Block Major Ag Mergers

More than 300 groups signed a letter calling on newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to block the three major seed and chemical mergers being reviewed by the Department of Justice.  The groups consisting of consumer, food, farm and anti-pesticide organizations say the mergers would increase both food and farming costs, threaten global food security, curtail innovation and limit farmer choices.

The mergers involved include Dow Chemical and DuPont, Bayer AG and Monsanto and ChemChina and Syngenta. Regarding the mergers, the letter states: Conglomerates of such massive scale, pose a real risk to our economy.”

The letter argues the mergers would translate into fewer options for farmers and raise input prices. DTN points out that many groups signing the letter have been longtime opponents of biotechnology and pesticides.

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