First District U.S. Congressman James Comer is concerned about a recent decision by the Department of Justice to approve a $66 billion dollar Bayer-Monsanto seed and agrochemical merger.
"Government’s responsibility is to prevent monopolies, you are getting pretty close to a monopoly there." Comer said he has been anxious about the government's repsonse. "You know, how big is too big. Apparently the government decided that wasn't too big, but it is certainly a concern in agriculture.”
Comer said it is important to have competition with plenty of seed varieties and chemicals to use and grow crops.
Watchdog group Food and Water Watch says the DOJ is requiring the sale of $9 billion dollars in seeds and technologies to German chemical firm BASF, the smallest of the now big-four seed and agri-chemical companies.
Critics fear the merger leaves farmers vulnerable to price gouging, increases control of farmers’ data and strengthens the hold a few dominant corporations have over the entire food system.
Comer made his comments at a town hall in Fulton on Tuesday, the same day the DOJ approved the merger.
