Over the past few years, Monsanto, a chemical firm, has positioned
itself as an agricultural company through control over seed – the
first link in the food chain. Monsanto now wants to control water, the
very basis of life.

In 1996, Monsanto bought the biotechnology assets of Agracetus, a
subsidiary of W. R. Grace, for $150 million and Calgene, a
California-based plant biotechnology company for $340 million. In
1997, Monsanto acquired Holden seeds, the Brazilian seed company,
Sementes Agrocerus and Asgrow. In 1998, it purchased Cargill’s seed
operations for $1.4 billion and bought Delta and Pine land for $1.82
billion and Dekalb for $2.3 billion.

In India, Monsanto has bought MAHYCO, Maharashtra Hybrid Company, EID

Parry and Rallis. Mr. Jack Kennedy of Monsanto has said, ‘we propose
to penetrate the Indian agricultural sector in a big way. MAHYCO is a
good vehicle.’ According to Mr. Robert Farley of Monsanto, ‘what you
are seeing is not just a consolidation of seed companies, it’s really
a consolidation of the entire food chain. Since water is as central to
food production as seed is, and without water life is not possible,
Monsanto is now trying to establish its control over water. During
1999, Monsanto plans to […]