• Latest
  • Trending
Consensus elusive on how big ag company mergers will affect growers

Consensus elusive on how big ag company mergers will affect growers

May 11, 2022
Astrakhan’s Early Cabbage Harvest: Local Sales and Long-Distance Trade – What’s Driving Demand?

Astrakhan’s Early Cabbage Harvest: Local Sales and Long-Distance Trade – What’s Driving Demand?

June 7, 2025
Alarming Import of Infected Vegetables: The Threat of Western Flower Thrips to Agriculture

Alarming Import of Infected Vegetables: The Threat of Western Flower Thrips to Agriculture

June 7, 2025
Maharashtra’s Onion Crisis: Heavy Rains Wipe Out Crops, Farmers Demand ₹1 Lakh/Acre Compensation

Maharashtra’s Onion Crisis: Heavy Rains Wipe Out Crops, Farmers Demand ₹1 Lakh/Acre Compensation

June 6, 2025
Onion and Cabbage Prices Skyrocket in Russia: Drought, Poor Harvest, and Market Turbulence Explained

Onion and Cabbage Prices Skyrocket in Russia: Drought, Poor Harvest, and Market Turbulence Explained

June 6, 2025
Strengthening Food Security: How Military-Civilian Collaboration Boosts Onion Farming in East Sumba

Strengthening Food Security: How Military-Civilian Collaboration Boosts Onion Farming in East Sumba

June 5, 2025
Astrakhan’s First Harvest: Where Will the Onions and Lettuce Go?

Astrakhan’s First Harvest: Where Will the Onions and Lettuce Go?

June 5, 2025
Sustainable Red Onion Farming: Key Practices for Higher Yields and Environmental Protection in Banten

Sustainable Red Onion Farming: Key Practices for Higher Yields and Environmental Protection in Banten

June 5, 2025
Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

June 4, 2025
Securing the Future of Onion Farming: Breeding for Resilience, Disease Resistance, and Global Food Security

Securing the Future of Onion Farming: Breeding for Resilience, Disease Resistance, and Global Food Security

June 4, 2025
Onion Price Crash: Farmers in Crisis as Bumper Harvest Floods Market – What’s Next?

Onion Price Crash: Farmers in Crisis as Bumper Harvest Floods Market – What’s Next?

June 4, 2025
Conflict-Driven Early Onion Harvest in Myanmar Leads to Price Crash and Farmer Distress

Conflict-Driven Early Onion Harvest in Myanmar Leads to Price Crash and Farmer Distress

June 3, 2025
Noonday Onions Defy Early Challenges: Farmers Eye Bumper Crop with Optimism

Noonday Onions Defy Early Challenges: Farmers Eye Bumper Crop with Optimism

June 3, 2025
  • Company
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Vegetables News
  • NEWS
    Astrakhan’s Early Cabbage Harvest: Local Sales and Long-Distance Trade – What’s Driving Demand?

    Astrakhan’s Early Cabbage Harvest: Local Sales and Long-Distance Trade – What’s Driving Demand?

    Alarming Import of Infected Vegetables: The Threat of Western Flower Thrips to Agriculture

    Alarming Import of Infected Vegetables: The Threat of Western Flower Thrips to Agriculture

    Maharashtra’s Onion Crisis: Heavy Rains Wipe Out Crops, Farmers Demand ₹1 Lakh/Acre Compensation

    Maharashtra’s Onion Crisis: Heavy Rains Wipe Out Crops, Farmers Demand ₹1 Lakh/Acre Compensation

    Onion and Cabbage Prices Skyrocket in Russia: Drought, Poor Harvest, and Market Turbulence Explained

    Onion and Cabbage Prices Skyrocket in Russia: Drought, Poor Harvest, and Market Turbulence Explained

    Strengthening Food Security: How Military-Civilian Collaboration Boosts Onion Farming in East Sumba

    Strengthening Food Security: How Military-Civilian Collaboration Boosts Onion Farming in East Sumba

    Astrakhan’s First Harvest: Where Will the Onions and Lettuce Go?

    Astrakhan’s First Harvest: Where Will the Onions and Lettuce Go?

    Sustainable Red Onion Farming: Key Practices for Higher Yields and Environmental Protection in Banten

    Sustainable Red Onion Farming: Key Practices for Higher Yields and Environmental Protection in Banten

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Securing the Future of Onion Farming: Breeding for Resilience, Disease Resistance, and Global Food Security

    Securing the Future of Onion Farming: Breeding for Resilience, Disease Resistance, and Global Food Security

  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
    • All
    • Climate
    • Crop protection
    • digital (smart)
    • dron
    • Fertilizer
    • Research
    • weed
    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

    Boosting Welsh Agriculture: How Organic School Meals Could Transform Farming by 2030

    Boosting Welsh Agriculture: How Organic School Meals Could Transform Farming by 2030

    Farming in Small Spaces: How Bandanaira Prison Is Growing Food and Futures with Polybag Vegetable Cultivation

    Farming in Small Spaces: How Bandanaira Prison Is Growing Food and Futures with Polybag Vegetable Cultivation

  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    Astrakhan’s Early Cabbage Harvest: Local Sales and Long-Distance Trade – What’s Driving Demand?

    Astrakhan’s Early Cabbage Harvest: Local Sales and Long-Distance Trade – What’s Driving Demand?

    Alarming Import of Infected Vegetables: The Threat of Western Flower Thrips to Agriculture

    Alarming Import of Infected Vegetables: The Threat of Western Flower Thrips to Agriculture

    Maharashtra’s Onion Crisis: Heavy Rains Wipe Out Crops, Farmers Demand ₹1 Lakh/Acre Compensation

    Maharashtra’s Onion Crisis: Heavy Rains Wipe Out Crops, Farmers Demand ₹1 Lakh/Acre Compensation

    Onion and Cabbage Prices Skyrocket in Russia: Drought, Poor Harvest, and Market Turbulence Explained

    Onion and Cabbage Prices Skyrocket in Russia: Drought, Poor Harvest, and Market Turbulence Explained

    Strengthening Food Security: How Military-Civilian Collaboration Boosts Onion Farming in East Sumba

    Strengthening Food Security: How Military-Civilian Collaboration Boosts Onion Farming in East Sumba

    Astrakhan’s First Harvest: Where Will the Onions and Lettuce Go?

    Astrakhan’s First Harvest: Where Will the Onions and Lettuce Go?

    Sustainable Red Onion Farming: Key Practices for Higher Yields and Environmental Protection in Banten

    Sustainable Red Onion Farming: Key Practices for Higher Yields and Environmental Protection in Banten

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Securing the Future of Onion Farming: Breeding for Resilience, Disease Resistance, and Global Food Security

    Securing the Future of Onion Farming: Breeding for Resilience, Disease Resistance, and Global Food Security

  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
    • All
    • Climate
    • Crop protection
    • digital (smart)
    • dron
    • Fertilizer
    • Research
    • weed
    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

    Boosting Welsh Agriculture: How Organic School Meals Could Transform Farming by 2030

    Boosting Welsh Agriculture: How Organic School Meals Could Transform Farming by 2030

    Farming in Small Spaces: How Bandanaira Prison Is Growing Food and Futures with Polybag Vegetable Cultivation

    Farming in Small Spaces: How Bandanaira Prison Is Growing Food and Futures with Polybag Vegetable Cultivation

  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING
No Result
View All Result
Vegetables News
Home AGROTECHNOLOGY

Consensus elusive on how big ag company mergers will affect growers

by Tatyana Ivanovich
May 11, 2022
in AGROTECHNOLOGY
0
Consensus elusive on how big ag company mergers will affect growers

The last 12 months have brought a wave of mergers among heavyweight agriculture companies. Industry groups, analysts and economists have differing forecasts of how specialty crop growers will fare in the new business climate.

Household names for family farmers – DuPont, FMC, Dow Chemical, Syngenta – have been involved in mergers, acquisitions and complicated transactions. Some of the transactions have been big enough to merit antitrust oversight from the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission. Company executives have been upbeat about the resulting changes.

When Dow Chemical merged with DuPont in September, DowDuPont Chief Executive Officer Ed Breen was optimistic about the results.

“DowDuPont is a launching pad for three intended strong companies (agriculture, materials science and specialty products) that will be better positioned to reinvest in science and innovation, solve our customers’ ever-evolving challenges, and generate long-term returns for our shareholders,” he said in a news release. The ag division of DowDuPont will be spun of as a new company, Corteva Agriscience, in 2019.

Not all growers and organizations were as optimistic. One critic was Farmers and Families First, a self-described 501(c)(4) that advocates for “free market-based policies to help the American farmers who grow our nation’s food and help the American families who consume that food.”

“History shows that market concentration comes at the expense of farmers,” Farmers and Families First wrote in a white paper that specifically mentioned the Bayer-Monsanto merger. “As the market for agricultural inputs has consolidated, seed prices for farmers have more than doubled relative to the prices they receive for the resulting crops. Before 1990, the world’s farmers typically purchased seeds with traits amenable to their growing conditions from any of 600 or more small, independent seed businesses, many of them family-owned.”

However, agriculture economist David Zilberman isn’t convinced that mergers will come at the growers’ expense in the long run.

“I don’t really worry about the merger as much as I am excited by the fact that people … invest in technologies that can improve productivity, that can improve a lot of tasks,” Zilberman said in an interview with Fruit Growers News. “How much investment is there? There is a lot, much more than in the past – much of it in harvesting.”

Zilberman is a professor in the Agricultural and Resource Economics Department at the University of California, Berkeley and president-elect of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. To him, investment, startup companies with new technologies, the overall expansion of biotechnology and even increased acceptance of genetically modified organisms are good signs that agribusiness is better prepared to deal with the looming problems such as climate change and feeding the world’s growing population.

In an article Zilberman and his colleagues recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Sustainability, the group wrote how GMO-averse Europe seems to be less fearful of the technology.

“A sign of the changing reality is that Bayer, a major European chemical company, is in the process of purchasing Monsanto. The European Commission recently announced the conditional approval of this merger,” the article said.

He earlier wrote a blog post reflecting favorably on the legacy of Monsanto:

“Whatever happens to Monsanto, the vision of using modern technology to enhance agricultural production and address challenges of climate change will endure.”

While fruit and vegetable growers so far have mostly avoided the use of GMOs, in the future biotechnology and other innovations could fill gaps left by vanishing chemical practices such as methyl bromide fumigation.

Not all mergers are driven by purely profit and loss considerations, Zilberman said.

“Some consolidation is a result of a desire to maximize profit,” he said. “Many consolidations are the result of several companies doing what one company can do better on an open market. So, it depends on the situation.

“The fact that many startups have emerged is a good sign,” he added.

– Stephen Kloosterman, VGN Associate Editor

Tags: growers
Previous Post

Key Technology ‘s VERYX sorters for fresh-cut leafy greens

Next Post

Ag tech startups could get funding through AgSharks competition

Next Post
Ag tech startups could get funding through AgSharks competition

Ag tech startups could get funding through AgSharks competition

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy of vegetables.news app

© 2020-2024 VEGETABLES NEWS

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING

© 2020-2024 VEGETABLES NEWS