A shrinking number of colossal companies — nicknamed the "Gene Giants" — dominate global sales of seeds and agrochemicals, according to a report released in September by the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI).
The top five gene giants (AstraZeneca, DuPont, Monsanto, Novartis, Aventis) account for nearly two-thirds of the global pesticide market (60%), almost one-quarter (23%) of the commercial seed market and virtually 100% of the transgenic (genetically engineered) seed market.
Five years ago, none of top five gene giants appeared on the list of leading seed corporations. In fact, three of the top five companies didn't even exist. Zeneca and Astra merged to form AstraZeneca, Rhone Poulenc and Hoechst became Aventis, Ciba Geigy and Sandoz became Novartis and DuPont swallowed Pioneer Hi-Bred earlier this year.
For more information, visit RAFI's web site at <http://www.rafi.org> or e-mail <rafi@rafi.org>.
Agrochemical companies top 10
Company 1998 pesticide sales (US millions)
Aventis (Germany) $4676
Novartis (Switzerland) $4152
Monsanto (USA) $4032
DuPont (USA) $3156
AstraZeneca (UK and Netherlands) $2897
Bayer (Germany) $2273
American Home Products $2194
Dow (USA) $2132
BASF (Germany) $1945
Makhteshim-Agan (Israel) $801
Seed industry top 10
Company 1998 seed sales (US millions)
DuPont (USA) $1835+
Monsanto (USA) $1800 (estimate)
Novartis (Switzerland) $1000
Groupe Limagrain (France) $733
Savia S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) $428
AstraZeneca (UK and Netherlands) $412
KWS AG (Germany) $370
AgriBiotech Inc. (USA) $370
Sakata (Japan) $349*
Takii (Japan) $300* (estimate)