There are many legitimate reasons for opposing the announced $66 billion takeover by Bayer AG of Monsanto. The deal could inhibit competition since Bayer/Monsanto would control 25% of the global seed market. Bayer's performance could be negatively impacted by the billions of Euros debt it is taking on to complete the transaction. The track record for mega-mergers like this is also not encouraging, Bayer shareholders could experience massive losses in their holdings.
But much of the opposition to the deal in Europe is based on crazy conspiracy theories. No other company has been demonized like Monsanto. The agri-business giant has been blamed for everything from Chemtrails to poisoned vaccinations.Monsanto executive have been accused ot suppressing data showing that GMOs cause harm, deliberately cause food shortages to promote the use of GM food, or have co-opted government agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration or scientific societies such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Most recently, Monsanto has been accused of creating and spreading the Zika virus (see: "Klar wie Chemtrails: Monsanto ist schuld am Zika virus ").
The Bayer-Monsanto merger was debated yesterday on the floor of the Bundestag, and most of the speakers voiced their strong opposition. Only one Bundestag member – Kristina Schröder – spoke in favor and pointed out how GMO's have increased crop yields globally to feed a hungry planet.
I have a hard time understanding how Green Party officials, who embrace the scientific evidence for man-made climate change, can at the same time reject all the scientific evidence pointing to the benefits of GMOs.
