Agribiotech
One of world's most controversial companies, and the leading producer of genetically engineered seed and glyphosate-based herbicides. Bayer completed it's takeover of Monsanto in June 2018. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.
Company Ownership
Monsanto Company
USA
Bayer AG
owns 100% of Monsanto Company
GER
Pharmaceuticals and biotech
Bayer was founded in Germany in 1863 and created aspirin in 1897. Previously part of IG Farben, a company which had deep connections to the Nazis in WWII. Completed its acquisition of Monsanto in June 2018, creating the world's largest seller of farming chemicals and seeds.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Oct 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Monsanto Company
Praise
Criticism
Information
Millions Against Monsanto Campaign
Millions Against Monsanto, a campaign sponsored by the Organic Consumers Association, targets Monsanto for abuses ranging from bullying small farmers to failing to adequately test and disclose the genetic engineering of products on supermarket shelves.
$160m pollution settlement
In 2024 Monsanto agreed to pay US$160 million to put an end to claims the company contaminated Seattle's stormwater, drainage systems and Lower Duwamish Waterway with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The City of Seattle claimed the Bayer AG subsidiary knew about the dangers PCBs posed to the public and the environment for years yet continued to promote the chemicals' use in a number of the company's products.
Source: Top Class Actions
(2024)
$45m false advertising settlement
In 2022 this company agreed to pay US$45 million as part of a class action settlement resolving false advertising and breach-of-warranty claims surrounding certain Roundup, HDX and Ace weed and grass killer products. Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit allege Monsanto illegally promoted and sold Roundup, HDX, Ace brand products without disclosing the potential health risks. This case is not a personal-injury case. Plaintiffs do not allege they were injured or became ill from exposure to the products. Class members will retain their right to sue if they currently have, or later develop, cancer or any other illness or injury from exposure to the products.
Source: Top Class Actions
(2021)
Top 10 Corporate Criminal of 2016
This company appeared on Global Exchange's list of "10 Top Corporate Criminals of 2016" for the development of genetically engineered wheat.
Source: Global Exchange
(2016)
$80m fraud settlement
In February 2016 Monsanto, now owned by this company, agreed to pay a US$80 million penalty and retain an independent compliance consultant to settle allegations that it violated accounting rules and misstated company earnings as it pertained to its flagship product Roundup.
Source: US SEC
(2016)
Toxic herbicides
Monsanto's Roundup herbicide has been linked to human birth defects, and now one of the company's signature genetically engineered crops is Roundup Ready wheat. Monsanto manufactured Agent Orange, a dangerous herbicide containing dioxin used by the US during the Vietnam War to reduce jungle foliage. Approximately 72 million litres of Agent Orange were sprayed over Vietnam, and Monsanto reached a $180 million settlement with veterans who suffered adverse health effects from handling the chemical.
Source: Green America
(2009)
Farmer suicides in India
A recent government study found that 200,000 Indian farmers have killed themselves in the past ten years. Well-known Bollywood filmmaker Aamir Khan attributes this startling statistic to the fact that many unsuspecting farmers are convinced that genetically modified seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers from American companies like Monsanto will increase their profits. Khan is hoping to spread awareness about this disturbing trend in a new movie called Peepli Live.
Source: Care2
(2010)
Corporate Criminals Alumni
This company appears on Global Exchange's list of "Most Wanted" Corporate Human Rights Violators "Alums" for promotion of monocropping, involvement in government, refusing to label product, and bankrupting small farms. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Global Exchange
(2018)
Previous boycott call
In May 2007, the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), with a membership of around 80,000, announced that it is launching a nationwide boycott of Monsanto to protest a proposed a $1.5 billion merger with Delta and Pine Co. that would reduce competition and crush small farmers. '[The merger] is going to give Monsanto a lock on three major commodities,' says Dr. John W. Boyd, Jr., president and founder of the NBFA. 'They already have corn and soybeans and now they're going to have control of cotton.'
Source: NBFA
(2007)
Herbicide tolerance and GM crops
This 2011 Greenpeace report criticises the widespread and increasingly intensive use of glyphosate in association with the use of GM (genetically modified) crops, saying it poses further risks to the environment and human health. Glyphosate kills all vegetation except GM crops specifically engineered to be tolerant to the powerful herbicide. Monsanto is the main company these activities.
Source: Greenpeace
(2011)
Land grabs in Africa
This company is a partner of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which claims will lift 50 million people in Africa out of poverty by 2022. But according to a 2015 report by ActionAid, the scheme will benefit multinational companies at the expense of small-scale farmers and is likely to increase poverty and inequality in Africa. Launched in 2012, the New Alliance provides aid money from rich countries like the US and the UK, and helps big business invest in the African agricultural sector. But in return, African countries are required to change their land, seed and trade rules in favour of big business. The New Alliance will: Make it easier for big corporations to grab land in Africa: Prevent farmers from breeding, saving and exchanging seeds: Heavily promote chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which increase farmers’ risk of debt as well as damaging the environment and farmers' health: Replace family farms with low paid, insecure jobs; and Prevent countries from restricting crop exports, even at times of domestic shortage.
Source: Action Aid
(2015)
Access to Seeds Index
The Access to Seeds Index evaluates and compares seed companies according to their efforts to improve access to quality seeds of improved varieties for smallholder farmers. This company received a score of 2.06/5.
Source: Access to Seeds Index
(2019)
About glyphosate
Monsanto sells half of the world's glyphosate, the most widely used and heavily applied herbicide in history. This 2017 report by As You Sow tells the story of glyphosate - how and why it is used, what we know about it, and what we do not. It focuses on human health concerns, such as increasing dietary exposures linked to pre-harvest use of glyphosate and the mounting criticism of current U.S. pesticide regulation.
Source: As You Sow
(2017)
51.5% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 51.5/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek
(2017)
Corporate Rap Sheet
The Corporate Research Project's Corporate Rap Sheets are dossiers summarising the most significant crimes, violations and other questionable activities of the world's largest and most controversial companies. Follow link to see this company's Corporate Rap Sheet. "Once a controversial chemical company, Monsanto remade itself into an even more controversial agricultural biotechnology corporation that holds a dominant position in both herbicides and genetically engineered seeds. Identified more closely than any other company with the effort to introduce genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the food supply, Monsanto has been the target of ongoing campaigns for more than 20 years."
Facing Finance profile
This company is listed on the Facing Finance website as a company that manufactures weapons or profits from violations of human rights, pollution, corruption, or international law. Follow link for further details.
Source: Facing Finance
(2014)
Bayer AG
Praise
Criticism
Information
CDP Climate Change score of A-
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of A-.
Source: CDP
(2023)
CDP Water Security score of A-
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of A-.
Source: CDP
(2023)
44.9% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #8/816, with a total score of 44.9/100.
56.1% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #5/350, with a total score of 56.1/100.
CDP Forests score of B
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests score of B.
Source: CDP
(2023)
Access to Seeds Index
The Access to Seeds Index evaluates and compares seed companies according to their efforts to improve access to quality seeds of improved varieties for smallholder farmers. This company received a score of 3.34/5.
Source: Access to Seeds Index
(2019)
Access to Medicine ranking
This company received the ninth highest score in the Access to Medicine Index 2022, a ranking of the world's 20 largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to increase access to medicine in developing countries. The ranking is based on their scores in each Technical Area, with Product Delivery weighted most highly, followed by R&D and Governance of Access.
13/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 13/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Roundup settlements
In 2020 Bayer agreed to pay US$10.9 billion to settle a lawsuit over Monsanto's weedkiller Roundup, which has faced numerous lawsuits over claims it causes cancer. Bayer said the Roundup settlement would 'bring closure to approximately 75%' of the current 125,000 filed and unfiled claims. Bayer has also paid millions more settling other cases related to Roundup and other chemicals it produces.
Source: The Guardian
(2020)
Producing unsafe birth control pills
Blood clots, stroke and other dangerous side effects associated with the use of Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills drove more than 10,000 US patients to file lawsuits against Bayer. As of January 2016, Bayer had agreed to pay $2.04 billion to settle over 10,000 claims for blood-clot injuries.
Source: Drug Watch
(2016)
Bee-harming pesticides
This 2013 report by Greenpeace, 'Bees in Decline', shows that the dramatic overall global decline in bee populations is the result of multiple factors such as diseases and parasites, climate change and wider industrial agricultural practices. Among the latter, scientific evidence highlights the deadly role of some pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids. Bayer and Syngenta are the world's largest producers of neonicotinoid based pesticides.
Source: Greenpeace
(2013)
Animal Testing
This company appears on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, USA) 'Companies That Do Test On Animals' list, signifying that they either test on animals or pay a laboratory to conduct tests on animals.
Source: PETA
(2022)
Supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 17/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE
(2023)
Palm oil rating - WAZA
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Poor" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA
(2023)
$17m drug safety violation settlement
In October 2019 the Kentucky Attorney General secured a US$17 million settlement with Bayer Corporation, a subsidiary of this company, over claims that it misled Kentucky women about risks associated with its birth control drugs Yasmin and Yaz.
Source: Kentucky Govt
(2019)
$52m environmental violations settlement
In July 2020 this company agreed to pay US$52 million in settlement of allegations that its subsidiary Monsanto Company sold polychlorinated biphenyls while aware they were more toxic than generally known and misled consumers and regulators about their toxicity resulting in damage to the environment and clean up costs. The lawsuit alleged that Monsanto sold PCBs for nearly 50 years, despite knowing that these chemicals would pollute waterways, kill wildlife, and cause significant health problems in humans, including cancer and liver damage.
Source: Columbia Attorney General
(2020)
Fined for weedkiller damage
In February 2020 a Missouri court awarded US$263 million in damages from the herbicide Dicamba. A US peach grower blamed the weedkiller for crop damage after it drifted onto his orchard from nearby fields destroying it. The costs will be shared between this company and BASF SE. The companies were ordered to pay the farmer US$15 million in actual damages and US$250 million in fines. The company faces another 140 or so US cases against dicamba.
Source: BBC News
(2020)
Fined $10m for using a banned pesticide
In November 2019 Monsanto Company, a subsidiary of this company, agreed to plead guilty to illegally using a banned pesticide known as Penncap-Mon on research crops at one of its research facilities on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It also agreed to pay a US$6 million criminal penalty and US$4 million in community service payments to Hawaiian government entities.
Source: US Dept of Justice
(2019)
Hazardous chemicals in pesticides
Of the world's big pesticide makers, Bayer's pesticides pose the biggest threat to human health and the environment, according to the Greenpeace Germany report 'The dirty portfolios of the pesticides industry' [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Greenpeace International
(2008)
Corporate Criminals Alumni
This company appeared on Global Exchange's 2014 list of "Most Wanted" Corporate Criminals for manufacturing and using bee-killing pesticides, pinning the bee crisis on other causes, exposing farmers to harmful pesticides, and working to monopolize drug prices. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Global Exchange
(2018)
Genetic Engineering
Bayer has been criticised for its commercial production of genetically modified crops. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
41.1% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 41.1/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek
(2017)
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; climate smart agriculture.
Source: We Mean Business
(2021)
Gender equality
This company appears on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
Source: Bloomberg
(2023)
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member
This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.
Source: SAI Platform
(2023)
Sustainability Consortium member
This company is a member of The Sustainability Consortium, an organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. They develop transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives.
Source: Sustainability Consortium
(2019)
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website under that headings of Health Care, Food Security and Climate Protection.
Source: company website
(2021)
UN Global Compact participant
The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.
Source: UN Global Compact
(2020)
How2Recycle member
This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
Source: How2Recycle
(2023)
Palm oil scorecard - WWF
The 2024 WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard evaluates the progress and performance of 285 major retailers and manufacturer companies, focusing on actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company is rated 'middle of the pack' with a score of 13.47 out of a possible total of 24.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Scorecard
(2024)
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website
(2017)
OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets
(2024)
Coalition Against Bayer Dangers
This website contains details about Bayer's tainted history including connections to the Nazis in WWII and the production of bee-killing pesticides.
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue:
15 billion USD
(2015)
Employees:
25,500
(2015)