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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."

7 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 stephanruby · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yes, but now Bayer will be the name that attracts all the hate for Monsanto's portfolio of products.

      Not that I disagree with that move, it's actually more honest, but still...

    2. Re:Toxic brand by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

      I mean, Bayer isn't called "IG Farben" for good reason. Bayer associates with "aspirin", which is good, right!?!

      "Give a man aspirin . . . and he'll be free of headaches for a day."

      "Give a man Zyklon B, and he'll be free of headaches for the rest of his life."

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    3. Re:Toxic brand by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Name changes used to work, but these days they tend to backfire. Journalists will still call them Monsanto (now rebranded Bayer due to bad publicity).

      All changing your name like that does is publicly admit that your reputation is impossible to salvage and you are trying to be sneaky. It's not like in the old days where such things could get by unnoticed.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. 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.

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      .sig: Sique *sigh*
  2. Re:... but the Asshattery remains. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What is hilarious is that the same people that constantly shout, "Science!" with respect to their causes that they find are supported by science, completely ignore the conspicuous lack of science to support their claims about GMO, Round Up, etc.

  3. 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/...