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Visualizing Consolidation in the Global Seed Industry: 1996–2008

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  • Philip H. Howard

    (Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies, Michigan State University, 316 Natural Resources, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

Abstract

The commercial seed industry has undergone tremendous consolidation in the last 40 years as transnational corporations entered this agricultural sector, and acquired or merged with competing firms. This trend is associated with impacts that constrain the opportunities for renewable agriculture, such as reductions in seed lines and a declining prevalence of seed saving. To better characterize the current structure of the industry, ownership changes from 1996 to 2008 are represented visually with information graphics. Since the commercialization of transgenic crops in the mid-1990s, the sale of seeds has become dominated globally by Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta. In addition, the largest firms are increasingly networked through agreements to cross-license transgenic seed traits.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip H. Howard, 2009. "Visualizing Consolidation in the Global Seed Industry: 1996–2008," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 1(4), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:1:y:2009:i:4:p:1266-1287:d:6464
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo & Richard E. Just, 2007. "Researchability of Modern Agricultural Input Markets and Growing Concentration," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 89(5), pages 1269-1275.
    2. Fernandez-Cornejo, Jorge, 2004. "The Seed Industry In U.S. Agriculture: An Exploration Of Data And Information On Crop Seed Markets, Regulation, Industry Structure, And Research And Development," Agricultural Information Bulletins 33671, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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