St. Louis | Reuters — Monsanto executives are discussing whether the world’s largest seed company should acquire agrochemical rivals, including top pesticide maker Syngenta, Monsanto president Brett Begemann said Tuesday. “Everybody’s talking now. There’s multiple ways things can occur,” he said. Monsanto abandoned a $45 billion bid for Syngenta in August (all figures US$). Begemann […] Read more
Syngenta still among options for Monsanto takeover bids
DuPont in talks with rivals about agribusiness
Reuters — DuPont is talking to rivals about its agriculture business, interim CEO Edward Breen said Tuesday, less than a week after Dow Chemical announced a review of its farm chemicals and seeds unit. Falling crop prices and rising fertilizer output have triggered talk of consolidation among farm-focused companies. DuPont has been touted as a […] Read more
Dow reviews options for farm chemical/seeds unit
Reuters — Dow Chemical said it would “review all options” for its farm chemicals and seeds unit, which has reported falling sales for nearly a year, and suggested that it might buy Corning’s stake in a silicon joint venture. Dow is also selling its stake in a Kuwaiti JV that produces a chemical used in […] Read more
DuPont to buy microbiome firm, seek edge in emerging crop products
Reuters — DuPont is buying a California-based microbiome discovery company for development of biological crop products, a move that the chemical and crop company hopes will give it an edge in an emerging agricultural market. DuPont’s announcement on Wednesday didn’t disclose how much it is paying for Taxon Biosciences, but said the 15-year-old company brings […] Read more
DuPont investors to vote on activist firm’s demands in May
Reuters — DuPont, embroiled in a proxy war with activist investor Trian Fund Management LP for board seats, said it would hold its annual shareholder meeting on May 13. Trian is seeking four seats on DuPont’s board, including one for its CEO Nelson Peltz, to help it force the company to split into two. DuPont […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
