René Muschter
Research Expert covering Industry & Mobility
Monsanto - statistics & facts
Monsanto was an agricultural biotechnology and agrochemical company that was acquired by Bayer in 2018. Monsanto products, such as Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, and genetically modified (GM) crops like Roundup Ready soybeans and Bt corn, revolutionized farming by increasing crop yields and reducing the need for chemical inputs. However, these innovations also sparked significant controversy related to the health risks of glyphosate and the environmental impacts of GM crops. Since the acquisition was finalized on June 7, 2018, Bayer has taken steps to address some of these concerns, including investing in sustainable agriculture initiatives and committing to transparency in their research and business practices however the conversation surrounding Monsanto, and its products, is far from over.
In 2016 Monsanto was the leading globally operating agribusiness company based on generated seed and pesticide sales. Based on their fiscal year 2017, Monsanto recorded net sales of about 14.6 billion U.S. dollars. In conjunction with Bayer, Monsanto had the largest market share in the global herbicides industry as of 2016, with a 34 percent share of the herbicide market worldwide.
Despite Bayer’s efforts to address the controversies, concerns about the health risks of glyphosate, environmental impacts of GM crops, and corporate practices persist. Bayer continues to face litigation and regulatory scrutiny, and the debate over the safety and ethics of Monsanto’s legacy products remains active.
Monsanto's portfolio
Their portfolio included agricultural seeds and genomics and crop protection chemicals. The seeds segment included seeds which were herbicide- or insect-tolerant. The company delivered either genetically modified crops (GM crops), or in countries where the modification of plants is not adopted, Monsanto sells conventional, non-GM plants. Monsanto also developed Roundup, which is a widely used glyphosate-based herbicide.In 2016 Monsanto was the leading globally operating agribusiness company based on generated seed and pesticide sales. Based on their fiscal year 2017, Monsanto recorded net sales of about 14.6 billion U.S. dollars. In conjunction with Bayer, Monsanto had the largest market share in the global herbicides industry as of 2016, with a 34 percent share of the herbicide market worldwide.
Bayer's takeover of Monsanto
In September 2016, Bayer finalized a deal worth 66 billion U.S. dollars to take over Monsanto. At that point in time, it was the largest all-cash company buyout in history, with a value six billion dollars higher than the previous world record. Bayer became one of the largest agriculture conglomerates in the world following the completion of the acquisition. In 2023, Bayer CropScience generated around 23.3 billion euros of revenue.Despite Bayer’s efforts to address the controversies, concerns about the health risks of glyphosate, environmental impacts of GM crops, and corporate practices persist. Bayer continues to face litigation and regulatory scrutiny, and the debate over the safety and ethics of Monsanto’s legacy products remains active.
