Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Chemical pollution · Multiple countries · 2012–2023

Major agrochemical firms buy biological input makers and sell organic-approved lines

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

Syngenta, Bayer and Corteva have bought biological input makers or sold products approved for organic farmers, including Syngenta’s 2020 purchase of Valagro and Bayer’s 2012 purchase of AgraQuest. The sources reviewed do not say how these deals changed sales of chemical pesticides, which is what is at stake for soil and water.

What?
Large agrochemical companies, including Syngenta, Bayer and Corteva, bought biological input makers or sold organic-approved products, according to company materials. Syngenta Group
Where?
Global, with OMRI-listed products sold in the United States Corteva
When?
Bayer acquisition 2012; Syngenta acquisition 2020; Bayer organic seed announcement 2021; sales figures for 2023 Bayer CropScience
Who?
Gained
  • Syngenta Group — Acquired Valagro (2020) Syngenta Group
  • Bayer — Acquired AgraQuest (2012) and announced an organic vegetable seed portfolio (2021) Bayer CropScience
Lost
None on record
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Corporate acquisitions and product lines marketed as approved for organic farming Corteva
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Syngenta Group reported in 2020 that it had acquired Valagro, a biologicals company.

Bayer announced in 2012 that it had bought AgraQuest, a biological products company.

Corteva promotes six OMRI-listed products to organic farmers in the United States, and Bayer announced in 2021 an organic vegetable seed portfolio under the Seminis and De Ruiter names.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The sources reviewed do not say how these acquisitions affected sales of chemical pesticides.
    • None on record The 2023 sales figures come from a secondary source with no link in the sources reviewed.
    • None on record The sources reviewed name no party that lost out from these purchases.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: ✓ Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts— Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Company or project

    2. Bayer buys AgraQuest
      Bayer CropScience · 2012

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