Seed Money: Monsanto's Past and Our Food Future

Bartow J. Elmore's book "Monsanto: The History of a Company That Shaped the World" is a definitive history of Monsanto, a St. Louis chemical firm that became the world's largest genetically engineered seed enterprise. It traces Monsanto's evolution from a scrappy chemical startup to a global agrobusiness powerhouse, using seed money derived from toxic products to build an agricultural empire.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 400 pages
\n Publication date: 12 November 2021
\n Publisher: WW Norton & Co
\n

This is the definitive history of Monsanto, a St. Louis chemical firm that became the world's largest genetically engineered seed enterprise. Monsanto merged with German pharma-biotech giant Bayer in 2018, but its Roundup Ready seeds, introduced twenty-five years ago, are still reshaping the farms that feed us. Incorporating global fieldwork, interviews with company employees, and untapped corporate and government records, award-winning historian Bartow J. Elmore traces Monsanto's astounding evolution from a scrappy chemical startup to a global agrobusiness powerhouse.

Capitalising on deals with customers like Coca-Cola, General Electric, and especially the US government, Monsanto used seed money derived from toxic products—including PCBs and Agent Orange—to build an agricultural empire, promising endless bounty through its genetically engineered technology. As new data emerges about its blockbuster Roundup system, and as Bayer faces a tide of lawsuits over Monsanto products past and present, Elmore's urgent history takes a penetrating look at the company's past.

Monsanto was founded in 1901 as a small St. Louis-based chemical company by John Francis Queeny. The company initially focused on producing agricultural chemicals, such as herbicides and insecticides, and later expanded into the development of genetically engineered seeds. Monsanto's early products were not very successful, and the company struggled to gain market share.

However, in the 1970s, Monsanto began to focus on developing genetically engineered seeds that were resistant to herbicides. The company's first genetically engineered seed, Roundup Ready soybeans, were introduced in 1996. These seeds were designed to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup, which was developed by Monsanto in the 1970s.

Roundup Ready soybeans quickly became popular among farmers, as they allowed them to spray large areas of land with Roundup without killing the crops. This reduced the need for manual labour and increased crop yields. Monsanto's success with Roundup Ready soybeans led to the company's expansion into other crops, such as corn and cotton.

In the 2000s, Monsanto faced increasing criticism over the safety of its genetically engineered seeds. Critics argued that the seeds could cause environmental harm, such as the development of superweeds that were resistant to herbicides. Monsanto denied these claims, arguing that its genetically engineered seeds were safe and had been thoroughly tested.

In 2016, Monsanto was acquired by Bayer, a German pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. The acquisition was seen as a way for Bayer to expand into the agricultural sector and to gain access to Monsanto's genetically engineered seeds.

Since the acquisition, Monsanto has continued to develop and sell genetically engineered seeds. The company's most popular product is Roundup Ready soybeans, which are used in over 90% of the world's soybeans. Monsanto also sells genetically engineered corn and cotton seeds.

Despite the company's success, Monsanto has faced increasing criticism over the years. Critics argue that the company's genetically engineered seeds are harmful to the environment, to human health, and to farmers. The company has also been accused of using aggressive marketing tactics to promote its products, such as lobbying governments and funding research that supports its claims.

In recent years, Monsanto has faced a wave of lawsuits over its genetically engineered seeds. These lawsuits have been brought by farmers who claim that Monsanto's seeds have caused them financial harm, as well as by environmental groups who argue that the company's practices are harmful to the environment.

In 2018, Monsanto merged with Bayer, creating a new company called Bayer CropScience. The merger was seen as a way for Bayer to consolidate its position in the agricultural sector and to better defend itself against lawsuits over its genetically engineered seeds.

Despite the merger, Monsanto's Roundup Ready seeds continue to be a controversial topic. The seeds are used in over 90% of the world's soybeans, and they have been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, infertility, and neurological disorders.

In conclusion, Monsanto's history is a story of innovation, growth, and controversy. The company's development of genetically engineered seeds has revolutionised the agricultural industry, but it has also faced increasing criticism over the years. Monsanto's Roundup Ready seeds are still a controversial topic, and the company's future is uncertain as it faces ongoing lawsuits and criticism over its products.

\n Weight: 720g\n
Dimension: 164 x 243 x 35 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781324002048\n \n