More than 30 years in the past, I have in mind reading one explicit comic ebook tale that also resonates with me to this day. Following an enormous battle, the e-book’s superhero has come across his arch-enemy’s stays in a airplane crash. It’s then that the finality of the moment hits him.
“We defined each other, didn’t we?” laments the hero. “By understanding you, I came that much closer to understanding myself. And now you’re dead. Really dead. What am I going to do now?”
Given present occasions, I consider various modern agriculture/genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)/crop protection product “heroes” are echoing this same lament in regards to the imaginable “demise” in their “defining villain,” Monsanto. Following a failed try to achieve rival crop protection merchandise/seed provider Syngenta overdue in 2015, the St. Louis, MO-based agricultural large now reveals itself an acquisition goal.
In early May, German crop coverage/seed large Bayer made a formal offer to shop for Monsanto for $62 billion. Ultimately, Monsanto Board of Directors decided towards accepting this bid, however at the same time made it transparent that more discussion between the 2 companies “would be welcome.”
Now, market analysts be expecting Bayer to come back to Monsanto with a “sweetened” 2d be offering, having reportedly lined up approximately $63 billion in financing to take action. Some more or less deal between the two could happen earlier than the tip of 2016. The endgame of this acquisition could see the loss of life of the Monsanto identify.
Now I’m positive a few agricultural combatants will unquestionably applaud this flip of occasions. After all, there were marches and protests against Monsanto and all its stood for corporately for a few years now, with a number of people calling for the company’s “death.”
However, there is probably a sizable majority of these agricultural critics who have profited handsomely — each financially and in social media circles — from pointing their collective arms at Monsanto and its merchandise and crying “villain.” Who will those other folks use as their anti-hero now?
No matter what in the end occurs with Monsanto, it’s clear the ones within ag assume anyone will “feel the wrath” of the trade’s foes. Only time will tell which company (or firms) might be “playing the villain” next.
