- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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 launch a new water business, starting with India and Mexico since
both these countries are facing water shortages."
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- http://www.transnationale.org/anglais/sources
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