Tech | September 18, 2008 | 12 comments

Monsanto expects Roundup to generate 1.8 billion in profits for 2008

source: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/9/16/134046/599

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JanforGore
That's a lot of poison in our rivers, streams, food, air and stomachs. Poison for profit. That should be their slogan. And why are these profits so high? Well, because they have bought up close to 90% of the global seed market thus forcing farmers to sign their bogus contracts holding them to buying their seeds and poison every year. They cannot save the seeds, and they have to buy the poison sprays with the seeds yearly. And the pesticides sprayed on crops made by these companies have also been found in higher levels in beehives, suggesting that it is possible that when bees have tried to pollinate GM crops they carry these pesticides back to the hives which makes them sick, thus causing them to desert the hives. Imagine what their seeds with built in pesticides can do for your salad!

And yet, the FDA states there is no difference between this poison and the conventional crops that farmers once grew and could regrow with saved seeds as has been the tradition in agriculture since ancient times. That way they also get out of responsibility from labelling the food you eat. That way you don't know the poisons you are consuming. And even if you are an organic farmer, chances are your crops have also been poisoned by their transgenic pollution. Even without selling you the seeds, you are a part of their big happy poison family.

Oh, and of course, these fake seeds with the poison centers are feeding the world! Don't pay attention to all of the starving people in Haiti, Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Don't let the real truth blind you to their propaganda... profit is good even at the expense of morality, truth, and this planet. That's the Monsanto way.

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From the entry noted:

Monsanto positions itself as a green company.

"Using the tools of modern biology," its website informs us, "we help farmers grow more yield sustainably so they can produce more and conserve more."

Compare that twaddle to this bit from Monsanto's announcement on Tuesday:

[Monsanto's Chief Financial Officer Terry] Crews will indicate that Monsanto's Roundup® and other glyphosate-based herbicides business is on track to be above $1.9 billion of gross profit for the 2008 fiscal year, ahead of the previous forecast. Wow. Nearly $2 billion in profit, from Roundup alone. As recently as February, Monsanto was expecting to make $1.4 billion from its herbicide division this year. I guess farmers applied it even more copiously than expected.

But the company isn't just churning out profit by peddling weed-killer. Its seeds are doing pretty well, too -- particularly corn:

Crews will also note that for the 2008 fiscal year, the company's corn business should exceed $2 billion in gross-profit generation for the first time. Interesting. So it makes nearly as much on herbicide as it does on corn seeds. (Overall, the company expects to make $3.8 billion on seeds in '08).

Investors applauded Monsanto's announcement, sending shares up 7.5 percent Tuesday.

I wonder if they're being short-sighted. Monsanto's success rests on Roundup Ready technology -- selling seeds genetically engineered to withstand heavy doses of its flagship herbicide.

But Roundup-tolerant weeds (so-called "superweeds") are on the rise. Eventully, farmers will have to shift away from Roundup -- Monsanto's $1.8 billion cash cow.

Meanwhile, Bayer is rolling out a new line of herbicide-tolerant seeds, this one designed to withstand doses of Bayer's glufosinate herbicide. Ain't the agrichemical industry grand?

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12 comments // Monsanto expects Roundup to generate 1.8 billion in profits for 2008

  • inapickle
    • 0
      inapickle  

    • I have never used round up.so we have a few weeds? And I am lucky to able to have a decent sized garden.Look around for a community garden if you don't have space..grow your own food as much as possible..

    • 3 years ago
  • heaven3000
    • 0
      heaven3000  

    • It is disturbing to discover the amount of chemicals people use in fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides without caring about the effects on humans. If something attacks an insects reproductive system or kills a 'weed' it must be safe to inhale, eat and drink, right? GMOs are just plain creepy, these vegetables are not even nutritious anymore!

    • 3 years ago
  • shroomfairy
    • 0
      shroomfairy  

    • I had no idea who Monsanto was until I joined Current. Thank you for keeping us informed.

      I had bought roundup in the past, but never again.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Oh well, I suppose when these companies thoroughly take over our food and water, perhaps then more people will care about them poisoning this planet and us... then again... Thanks to those who always comment about this important issue.

    • 3 years ago
  • queenofit
    • 0
      queenofit  

    • Introduction to The Democracy School

      grassroots educational centers teaching us how to unite and fight these corporations....

      A fifteen minute introductory video to The Democracy School. Featuring Democracy School students,

      facilitators shown in video are.....
      Thomas Linzey and Richard Grossman.

    • 3 years ago
  • darkhorsejim
    • 0
      darkhorsejim  

    • MONSANTO-BAD SEED IN WORLD OF AGRICULTURE! BOYCOTT ALL MONANTO PRODUCTS! They are the world leaders in Genetically Engineered & Genetically Modified food sources upon which all humans subsist. As they go global with this strategy, they are truly one of the most dangerous companies in the world as they attempt to monopolize the very essence of survival - legal ownership of patented single use seeds to grow our food, and unbelievably, must be purchased from Monsanto every year in order to plant your next crop.

      If you haven’t seen the documentary “The Future of Food” (or even "The Corporation") yet, I strongly urge you to do so. If I didn’t know that Monsanto’s goal of global food manipulation, distribution & ultimately complete crop control is perfectly legal, I would have thought this reaching the level of science fiction. However, this is one powerful & evil company that has Washington D.C.’s politicians, regulatory agencies & lobbyists in all their pockets.

      Don’t be fooled or misled, Monsanto is one of the biggest scum-sucking parasites ingratiating its way further into everyone’s daily life whether you are aware of it or not. Their logo should be the CEO with horns, a pointy tail & carrying a pitchfork in order to prod you into becoming a consumer of their products. Do not underestimate or do business with this company-you will only empower them to overpower us.

      Try to shop with as much awareness as possible, thinking about who ultimately gets your money, because it’s truly the only immediate defense we have until the right people are in the right positions to stop this evil empire. They will stop at nothing to keep any competitive products-usually organic & safe-off of store shelves in order to push their own toxic products on a society too busy to notice, in most cases, without the publicity of well meaning organizations & CURRENT’s contributors relentless search for the truth. Labeling is now becoming the next hurdle to conquer so that consumers will more easily be able to decide which products to purchase based on the ingredients & whether or not they’re organic.

      Buying locally helps the cause, as they are less likely corporate owned & run, as well as operate a more transparent operation. Organic foods are more common while GMOs less likely. There's also greater energy savings with reduced transportation costs that help keep prices down & profitability/success up. You'd be surprised how accessible organic & locally grown food is. The following link www.localharvest.org is a good start, but by no means all inclusive, so make it an adventure by exploring your own area to seek out these safe havens for food grown under healthier conditions while nurturing your local economy.

    • 3 years ago
  • third_eye_view
    • 0
      third_eye_view  

    • Amidst all the chaos economically here and the loss of human life internationally, this issue has certainly been swept under the rug. We have to dig it back out and remind folks that their health and diet directly impacts their quality of life.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Yes, McCain, Palin, and the destructive and toxic industries they support. However, I just read that one of Obama's science advisors is Susan Long, who is a former member of the board of Monsanto. And he supports genetic agriculture. Sorry, but I am afraid they are all in this together. Dennis Kucinich seems to be the only member of Congress who cares about the detrimental effects of this.

    • 3 years ago
  • third_eye_view
  • JanforGore
  • wanamoka
  • MeganMcKenzie
    • 0
      MeganMcKenzie  

    • Monsanto, McCain, Palin, nuclear power, clean coal, slaughtering wolves from airplanes: all need to go. I would say pack them all in a rocket and send them into space but that would be an unfair affliction for the other lifeforms out there.

      I am disgusted by Monsanto's business practices and how they are destroying our earth. I see no difference between them and Big Oil and their greed.

      Perhaps we could gather them all together and they could live by a nuclear power plant or a coal plant and not have permission to leave their home environment.

    • 3 years ago
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