Save the bees and butterflies: Tell Congress to prevent the next Bayer-Monsanto mega-merger!

Last spring, Bayer the Bee Slayer and Monsanto the Butterfly Killer became Bayer-Monsanto via a DOJ approved mega-merger. Bees, butterflies and our food system are now even more at risk.

Now, progressive champions in Congress have introduced a bill that would halt Big Ag mega-mergers like Bayer-Monsanto in the future. It’s critical that your legislators support this bill. And they need to feel pressure from constituents like you!

Dear Legislator,

I urge you to cosponsor the Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 2019 (S.1596/HR.2933). I am deeply concerned by the wave of recent agriculture mega-mergers including Bayer and Monsanto, Dow and DuPont, and Syngenta and ChemChina. Data shows that corporate consolidation in our food and agricultural system hinders innovation while decreasing choices and increasing prices for farmers and consumers. The evidence is clear that this monopolistic industry will have a detrimental impact on farmers, small businesses, workers, consumers, the environment and our food system. Our country would benefit from a reevaluation of its lax anti-trust laws.

The Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act would allow for a review period before mergers are permitted to assess the potential impact of corporate consolidation on farmers, workers, consumers and communities. It would also initiate a moratorium on large agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing and grocery retail mergers. This bill is endorsed by 219 farm, food, rural, faith and consumer advocacy organizations.

Economic assessment has shown that the consolidation of agricultural corporations has benefited corporations while hurting farmers and consumers. Recent mergers in the food and agriculture sector have given mega-corporations an unprecedented amount of power in the industries of farming, inputs, research, development and technology. Mergers lead to monopoly practices that reduce innovation, limit farmers’ choices, decrease quality and diversity of seeds and increase prices for farmers and consumers. For example, overall research & development has reduced as new mergers have been approved. In the pharmaceutical industry, 156,000 jobs were cut between 2009 and 2014, many as a result of mergers and acquisitions, and many at research sites.

Corporate consolidation in the agricultural sector has decreased farmer incomes. Today, farmers only receive about 14 cents for every dollar spent at the grocery store. In addition to reducing worker wages and exacerbating income inequality, mergers have contributed to increased food prices for consumers because there is less competition in the marketplace. Since 2008, the annual increase in real prices have jumped nearly three times faster than typical earnings.

The consolidation of pesticide and seed manufacturers Bayer and Monsanto has given the corporation greater control of multiple aspects of the market, increasing farmers’ dependence on their products and further entrenching a chemical-intensive farming model that is responsible for alarming declines in pollinator populations and deterioration of biodiversity. 
 
Demanding that companies voluntarily consider consumer and farmer interests is not sufficient to protect those harmed most by the impacts of big agricultural mergers. This bill is critical because it will place a moratorium on all mergers and acquisitions in the food and agriculture sector. It will also establish a commission that would examine antitrust measures and provide oversight in the farm and food sectors. This commission would publish recommendations on how to improve our country’s insufficient antitrust regulations and merger enforcement laws to help restore fair and competitive markets.

A poll by Public Policy Polling found that 9 in 10 Americans had serious concerns about the recent Bayer-Monsanto merger due to its impacts on jobs, food safety and independent farmers. This poll demonstrates that Americans are concerned with the way our federal government is allowing a few corporations to dominate our marketplace and want their elected officials to take action to address concentrated corporate power. The poll also found 90% of Americans, including 92% of Trump voters, believe the Trump Administration needs to take on a more aggressive stance toward corporate monopolies.

I urge you to demonstrate leadership on this issue and provide strong oversight on corporate monopolies by cosponsoring the Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 2019 (S.1596/HR.2933). This legislation will help protect consumers, farmers, rural economies, our food system, and the environment.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First name} {user_data~Last name}
{user_data~State}, {user_data~Postcode}

First name

Last name

Email address

Address line 1

City

State

Zip Code

What is your cell phone number?

Alerts about ways you can take action

Friends of the Earth Action Activists

By submitting this form, you are signing up to receive updates and alerts from Friends of the Earth and Friends of the Earth Action. You may unsubscribe at any time.

By providing your mobile number and submitting this form, you are signing up to receive periodic SMS messages from Friends of the Earth and Friends of the Earth Action. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to 91990 to stop receiving messages. Text HELP to 91990 for more information. Terms & conditions.