Soy Growers Protest Brazil Antitrust Ruling On Bayer

Brazilian soybean producers’ group Aprosoja, representing 240,000 farmers, on Tuesday, August 10, criticized federal antitrust agency CADE’s decision to clear a joint venture formed by rivals Bayer AG, Corteva, and Syngenta.

The joint venture was approved by CADE unconditionally last week and offers a platform for the collection of royalties from genetically modified soybeans in Brazil.

The farmers’ group complained that CADE ignored its misgivings about the venture, which it claims will perpetuate a royalties collection system long opposed by local growers.

Cultive Biotec, as the JV is known, stated it will make more soy biotechnologies available in Brazil. It also stated it will stimulate competition among biotechnology developers and increase the competitiveness of Brazil’s farm sector, which will have more seed biotechnologies to choose from.

CADE stated it strives to maintain competition, guaranteeing the diversity and quality of products and services offered to consumers.

Tuesday’s statement by Aprosoja underscores tensions between soy farmers and biotechnology companies operating in Brazil, the world’s biggest producer and exporter of that oilseed and other agricultural commodities like coffee and sugar.

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