Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

No More 'Miracles From Molecules': Monsanto's Name Is Being Retired (reuters.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the gone-with-the-wind dept.

Flexagon writes: Germany's Bayer announced today that in its link-up with Monsanto, it's retiring the "Monsanto" name, and with it the name of the company that originally sponsored Disneyland's "Adventure Thru Inner Space" attraction. The $63 billion takeover will wrap up on Thursday. "Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio," it said.

The decision to retire the name is a smart business move. "These days Monsanto is shorthand for, as NPR's Dan Charles has put it, 'lots of things that some people love to hate': Genetically modified crops, which Monsanto invented," reports NPR. "Seed patents, which Monsanto has fought to defend. Herbicides such as Monsanto's Roundup, which protesters have sharply criticized for its possible health risks. Big agriculture in general, of which Monsanto was the reviled figurehead."

3 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. Toxic brand by jawtheshark · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's a toxic brand: I'm surprised it took that long. I mean, Bayer isn't called "IG Farben" for good reason. Bayer associates with "aspirin", which is good, right!?!

    --
    Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
    1. Re:Toxic brand by Sique · · Score: 5, Informative

      The reason being that the IG Farben was a trust, of which Bayer only was a part of. In fact, IG Farben consisted of eight different companies, Bayer, BASF, AGFA, Casella, Brüning, Griesheim-Elektron, Kalle, and ter Meer. After World War II, the IG Farben was disolved back into the eight former companies (Griesheim-Elektron becoming a part of Hoechst). So while Bayer was an important part of IG Farben, it wasn't IG Farben itself, and the former IG Farben is not Bayer.

      --
      .sig: Sique *sigh*
  2. Re:Sooooo by F.Ultra · · Score: 5, Informative

    Every major chemical company produces glyhosate products, here is one from Bayer: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bayer...

    And no, Monsanto never sued farmers whose fields where infected. All lawsuits have been with people who "intentionally replanted patented seeds": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...