Communiqué
September/October 2005 Issue # 90
Global Seed Industry Concentration – 2005
ISSUE: 2004-2005 saw an upsurge in seed industry takeovers and a shake-up in rankings. Today, the top
10 companies control half of the world’s commercial seed sales. With a total worldwide market of
approximately US$21,000 million per annum, the commercial seed industry is relatively small compared
to the global pesticide market ($35,400 million), and it’s positively puny compared to pharmaceutical
sales ($466,000 million). But corporate control and ownership of seeds – the first link in the food chain –
has far-reaching implications for global food security. This Communique examines seed industry
consolidation and other recent trends in the commercial seed industry.
IMPACT: With control of seeds and agricultural research held in fewer hands, the world’s food supply is
increasingly vulnerable to the whims of market maneuvers. Corporations make decisions to support the
bottom line and increase shareholder returns – not to insure food security. Ultimately, seed industry
oligopoly also means fewer choices for farmers. A new study by the US Department of Agriculture
examines the impact of seed industry concentration on agbiotech research. The study concludes that
reduced competition is associated with reduced R&D. Despite seed industry claims to the contrary,
concentration in the seed industry is resulting in less innovation – not more.
PLAYERS: A fistful of transnational firms, the Gene Giants, dominates global seed sales. Monsanto,
Dupont, Syngenta – all among the world’s top-ranking pesticide firms – lead the pack.
POLICY: Seed industry concentration is already high on the agenda of civil society and farmers’
organizations that are working to support and maintain peasant and farmer-controlled seed systems and
against policies and technologies that seek to further privatize seeds. The implications of seed industry
consolidation for food security and biodiversity must also be urgently addressed by governments at the
FAO Conference in November and by the UN Convention on Biodiversity in 2006.
World’s Top 10 Seed Companies + 1
Company 2004 seed sales
1. Monsanto (US) +
Seminis (acquired by Monsanto
3/05)
$2,2771 + $526
pro forma = $2,803
2. Dupont/Pioneer (US) $2,600
3. Syngenta (Switzerland) $1,239
4. Groupe Limagrain
(France) $1,044
2
5. KWS AG (Germany) $6223
6. Land O’ Lakes (US) $5384
7. Sakata (Japan) $4165
8. Bayer Crop Science
(Germany) $387
6
9. Taikii (Japan) $3667
10. DLF-Trifolium
(Denmark) $320
8
11. Delta & Pine Land (US) $315
Oligopoly • noun: a state of limited com-
petition, in which a market is shared by a small
number of producers or sellers. Source:
Askoxford.com
ETC Group’s new chart, Who Owns Whom? Seed
Industry Concentration – 2005, offers a more
detailed look at many of the corporate seed sector’s
biggest global players, including acquisitions and
subsidiaries (see Appendix).
ETC Group will release Oligopoly, Inc. – 2005 later
this year. It will examine concentration in corporate
power in additional sectors, including agrochemicals,
biotech, animal pharma, the pharmaceutical
industry, food retail and food & beverage
processing.
ETC Group, 431 Gilmour St, Second Floor, Ottawa, ON Canada K2P 0R5
www.etcgroup.org
What’s the value of the global seed market?
Expert opinions vary – a lot.
According to the International
Seed Federation, the
estimated size of the market
for seed and other planting
material in 56 selected
countries in 2005 was
US$25,243 million.9 ETC
Group believes that the figure
overstates the value,
particularly because ISF’s
figures include “other
planting material” – which is
not defined.
A July 2005 report by Phillips McDougall, UK-
based agribusiness industry analysts, puts the value
of the commercial seed market at US$19,000 million
– and estimates that the top 10 companies control
51% of the total market.
Given the enormous disparity in the figures, ETC
Group estimates that the commercial seed market
falls somewhere in between. Using an estimated
market value of $21,000 million for commercial
seed sales worldwide, ETC Group conservatively
estimates that the top 10 companies control 49%
of the global seed market.
2005 saw an upsurge in seed industry takeovers and
a shake-up in rankings. The perennial kingpin,
Dupont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred International, was
dethroned from the top spot when Monsanto
acquired Seminis in January 2005 for $1,400
million. With the
acquisition of Seminis,
Monsanto became the
world’s leading seed
company – and the
world’s biggest
commercial vegetable
seed company. (See
more details on Monsanto, next page.)
Given the fast pace of mergers and acquisitions, we
expect that the top 10 rankings will flip-flop again
soon.
Despite controversy and lack of public
acceptance – genetically modified (GM) seeds are
gaining market share. According to Phillips
McDougall, genetically modified seeds now account
for one quarter of the total value of the commercial
seed market worldwide.10 The market
for biotech seed traits (herbicide
tolerance and insect resistance) has
shot up from $280 million in 1996 to
$4,700 million in 2004 – a 17-fold
increase over the past nine years.
In 2004, Pioneer/Dupont earned 50%
of its seed revenues from varieties
that included a genetically modified
trait. For 2005 Dupont offers the
following products for the US
market:
Pioneer/Dupont Product Offerings
USA, 2005
Seed Product Total #
of Seed
Varieties
# with
Biotech
Traits
Percent
Maize/corn 298 150 50%
Soybean 107 89 83%
Canola 9 4 44%
The growth in GM seed market share is remarkable,
especially given that genetically modified seeds have
been accepted in relatively few countries and
continue to be steeped in controversy all over the
world. The lesson? When a few giant firms make up
the cast of characters in the commercial GM seed
market, it isn’t necessary to have a superior product
to win market share.
Seed Industry Concentration – Who Cares?
Whether we’re talking about sneakers, washing
machines, beer or cell
phones – corporate
concentration is
ubiquitous. In 2005,
Adidas tied the knot with
Reebock, Procter &
Gamble gobbled Gillette,
Molson guzzled Coors,
SBC acquired ATT,
Verizon merged with MCI and Maytag is wooing
Whirlpool. But seeds are fundamentally different
from razors and running shoes. When ownership of
seeds – the first link in the food chain – is tightly
held by a fistful of transnational firms – the world’s
food supply becomes vulnerable to the whims of
market maneuvers. Corporate boards make decisions
to support the bottom line and increase shareholder
returns – not to insure food security.
“What kind of industrial strategist—and we must assume
there was strategy at some point—would try to stealthily
bring to market products that no one needs but everyone
has to consume, that the most industry-friendly politician
would have difficulty justifying and whose only apparent
redeeming feature is to improve the market positioning of
the companies that make them?” – Editorial, Nature
Biotechnology, September, 2004
Monsanto – The World’s Largest Seed Company – At a Glance
In 2004, Monsanto’s biotech seeds and/or trait technology accounted for 88% of the total GM crop area
worldwide.11 According to Monsanto, its biotech trait acreage covered 175.7 million acres in 2004 – roughly
the size of Zambia. (one acre = .4047 hectare)
Monsanto’s share of GM crops:12
GM Soybeans – Monsanto accounted for 91% of the worldwide GM soybean area in 2004. (119.5
million acres GM soybeans worldwide; Monsanto GM soybean 109 million acres)
GM Maize – Monsanto accounted for 97% of the worldwide GM maize area in 2004.
(47.7 million acres GM maize worldwide; Monsanto GM maize 46.4 million acres)
GM Cotton - Monsanto accounted for 63.5% of the worldwide GM cotton area in 2004.
(22.2 million acres GM cotton worldwide; Monsanto GM cotton 14.1 million acres)
GM Canola - Monsanto accounted for 59% of the worldwide GM canola area in 2004.
(10.6 million acres GM canola worldwide; Monsanto GM canola 6.3 million acres)
Note: These statistics are based on industry sources: Monsanto and ISAAA.
Global Seed Market Share: Corn/Maize – Monsanto controls 41% global market share
Soybeans – Monsanto controls 25% global market share
Cotton: In April 2005 Monsanto acquired Emergent Genetics for $300 million. Emergent is the third largest
cotton seed company in both India and the US, with approximately 12% of the US cotton seed market and
10% of the Indian hybrid cotton seed market.
Monsanto Takes the Garden Path
With the January 2005 acquisition of Seminis for $1,400 million, Monsanto takes a dominant position in the
fast-growing vegetable seed market – a previously untapped seed segment for Monsanto. Under a variety of
brand names, Seminis supplies over 3,500 seed varieties to fruit and vegetable growers in 150 countries. The
Seminis acquisition includes the following brands:
Royal Sluis
Petoseed
Bruinsma
Asgrow Vegetable Seeds
For Monsanto, “vegetable seed is the next logical strategic move” because it’s a “high value, high growth
segment in agriculture.”13 According to Monsanto, seed and trait gross profit as percent of sales is higher for
vegetables (64%) than for soybeans (63%) or for corn (57%). Monsanto now assumes a leading market
share in the global vegetable seed market, where they were virtually invisible before:
Beans Monsanto controls 31% of the global seed market
Cucumbers Monsanto controls 38% of the global seed market
Hot Pepper Monsanto controls 34% of the global seed market
Sweet PepperMonsanto controls 29% of the global seed market
Tomato Monsanto controls 23% of the global seed market
Onions Monsanto controls 25% of the global seed market
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 4
A new study by the US Department of Agriculture
looks at how seed industry concentration affects
research.14 In the US, private sector spending on
crop variety R&D increased 14-fold between 1960
and 1996, while public expenditures stagnated. It’s
widely acknowledged that intellectual property laws
(plant breeders’ rights and patents) that give
companies exclusive monopoly rights over plant
varieties spurred seed industry concentration.
Looking at biotech maize, cotton and soybeans,
USDA researchers found that research intensity
slowed as seed markets became more concentrated.
“Those companies that survived seed industry
consolidation appear to be sponsoring less research
relative to the size of their individual markets than
when more companies were involved…Also fewer
companies developing crops and marketing seeds
may translate into fewer varieties.”15
The USDA study also notes that public research on
crop variety R&D “has a stimulative effect on
private biotech research.” The authors conclude that
increasing publicly funded research for plant
breeding “would not only sustain the oft-
documented high rates of public return to public
research, but could also promote additional private
research.” The moral of the story? In the case of
agbiotech in the USA, reduced competition is
associated with reduced R&D. Despite seed industry
claims to the contrary, concentration in the seed
industry has resulted in less innovation – not more.
Ultimately, a highly concentrated seed market means
less choice for farmers – not more.
Milestone or Miasma? According to zealous
proponents of biotech, “sometime during the early
days of May 2005, a farmer somewhere in the
world” planted the 1 billionth acre of biotech crops
(400 million hectares).16 For supporters of GM
crops, tracking the total number of acres planted
with genetically modified seeds is like McDonald’s
posting the number of hamburgers served under the
golden arches:
“Today, we mark a billion acres. At some point in
the future, like McDonald’s, so many billion acres of
biotech crops will have been planted and harvested
around the world that we’ll quit counting these
biotech acres altogether.” – Truth About Trade and
Technology, an advocacy group that supports free trade
and agricultural biotechnology, Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
The global proliferation of hamburgers sold by the
world’s mega fast-food enterprises is an apt
comparison to the spread of the Gene Giants’
biotech seeds: There are enormous social costs
imposed by the ubiquity of these corporate products
– costs that are not usually recognized or addressed
until after the product/technology is widely
deployed.
Take GM contamination, for example – unwanted
gene transfer via cross-pollination from GM crops to
conventional or organic crops nearby. In the early
days of biotech it was discussed as a remote
possibility, it soon became a reality, then a nuisance,
and now a crisis (for some). With the rapid
expansion of GM crop area, farmers are finding it
increasingly difficult to produce purely non-GM
varieties. According to Canadian researchers writing
in Ecological Economics earlier this year, “Loss of,
or limited ability to produce certified non-GM crops
has the potential to impose significant production
and consumption externalities on producers,
consumers and other downstream users.”17 They
note that “the opportunity costs to farmers could rise
dramatically as the number of GM-free producing
areas declines, especially if disgruntled consumers
choose simply to avoid food product lines with GM
content.”
Today, scientists are sparring over how to measure
GM contamination and what it means. Regulators
and scientists are trying to determine isolation
distances to thwart pollen dispersal and cross-
pollination. At least 28 governments plus the
European Union are grappling with requirements for
the labeling of GM foods, and how to set tolerance
levels for GM content (in non-labeled foods).
Consumers in some markets are rapidly losing the
ability to choose non-GM foods, or must pay more
to avoid biotech. Farmers who choose not to grow
GM crops are faced with loss of markets if their
crops are contaminated, or lawsuits if unauthorized
patented genes are found on their property.
How will society deal with social costs imposed by
GM crops and GM contamination? Who will
decide? Who will pay? The Canadian researchers
offer two troubling suggestions: “…either a tax on
GM growers could be used to compensate non-GM
growers for any loss of income due to co-mingling
or, alternately, non-GM growers could pay GM
growers to restrict their planting.” Both proposals
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 5
are unacceptable because neither puts the burden
squarely on the source of the contamination: the
biotech industry.
There are ominous signs that policy decisions are
being made to accommodate the Gene Giants and to
transfer the costs and burdens of GM contamination
to farmers and consumers.
In the United States, state governments are passing
laws ghost-written by the biotech industry that make
it illegal for local governments to ban or restrict
genetically modified crops. Determined not to allow
local prohibitions of GM crops like those approved
by three counties in California, the industry has
pushed at least 14 states to pass preemption bills that
are designed to mute citizen concerns about GM
crops.
Another example is that the seed industry and allied
governments are aggressively promoting Terminator
seed technology as a viable method to stop
geneflow. Delta & Pine Land, the US-based
company that is actively developing genetic seed
sterilization, makes the outrageous and scientifically
unsupportable claim that Terminator “provides the
biosafety advantage of preventing even the remote
possibility of transgene movement.”18
New seed laws are being adopted in many countries
that aim to restrict the rights of farmers to control
and use their seeds. An in-depth report by GRAIN
examines the imposition of new, repressive seed
laws that are replacing older seed legislation in many
countries.19 According to GRAIN, “the main purpose
of these seed laws is to provide better protection of
private seed varieties developed by companies and
sideline farmers’ own seeds completely.”
GM Seeds and Pesticides – Another Industry
Myth Shattered: Since the early days of biotech,
the industry has promised that genetically modified
seeds would reduce the use of pesticides in
agriculture. A 2004 study by Charles M. Benbrook
looks at GM crops and pesticide use in the US from
1993-2004 (the US accounts for 60% of the total
GM crop area worldwide). The study concludes that
overall the use of agrochemicals on GM crop
acreage has risen about 4.1% since 1996. The
findings contradict the industry’s oft-repeated claim
that biotech crops reduce pesticide use in agriculture.
According to Benbrook:
GE [genetically engineered] corn, soybeans and
cotton have led to a 122 million pound increase in
pesticide use since 1996. While Bt crops have
reduced insecticide use by about 15.6 million
pounds over this period, HT [herbicide tolerant]
crops have increased herbicide use 138 million
pounds. Bt crops have reduced insecticide use on
corn and cotton about 5 percent, while HT
technology has increased herbicide use about 5
percent across the three major crops. But since so
much more herbicide is used on corn, soybeans and
cotton, compared to the volume of insecticide
applied to corn and cotton, overall pesticide use has
risen about 4.1 percent on acres planted to GE
varieties. – Charles M. Benbrook, “Genetically
Engineered Crops and Pesticide Use in the United
States: The First Nine Years.” Biotech InfoNet,
Technical Paper Number 7, October 2004.20
Farmers are being forced to apply greater amounts of
herbicides on genetically modified herbicide tolerant
crops because some weeds have developed
resistance in the face of heavy reliance on herbicide
tolerant crops. Benbrook finds that “reliance on a
single herbicide, glyphosate, as the primary method
for managing weeds on millions of acres planted to
HT varieties” is the primary factor that requires
farmers “to apply more herbicides per acre to
achieve the same level of weed control.”
Glyphosate, the world’s most commonly used
agricultural chemical, is typically considered less
hazardous than other chemical weedkillers. But new
studies on glyphosate, and Monsanto’s proprietary
formulation, RoundUp, raise serious concerns about
the safety of the chemical for human health and the
environment.21 About three-quarters of the
worldwide area devoted to GM crops last year was
planted with crops engineered to tolerate spraying of
glyphosate.
Conclusion: Seed industry consolidation means less
competition, resulting in fewer choices for farmers
and greater vulnerability for local farming
communities and global food security. Choices are
further reduced with the spread of GM
contamination encroaching on conventional and
organic crops.
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 6
Who Owns Whom?
Seed Industry Concentration – 2005
ETC Group’s list includes many of the world’s largest seed companies and their acquisitions and/or
subsidiaries. It is not a comprehensive list of all seed companies, but includes many of the top 20 firms that
sell commercial field, vegetable and garden seeds.
Seed Company Subsidiaries/Acquisitions Comments
Royal Barenburg Group
(Netherlands)
Barenbrug Belgium
Barenbrug China
Barenbrug France
Barenbrug Holland BV
Barenbrug Luxembourg
Barenbrug Polska
Barenbrug South East
Barenbrug UK
Barenbrug USA
Barenbrug Production
Heritage Seeds Pty (Australia)
Modern Forage Systems Inc
New Zealand Agriseeds
Palaversich y Cia (Argentina)
Specializes in forage crops and turf
grass. 20 subsidiaries in 12
countries. Annual sales: €160
million in 2004.
BASF (Germany) SunGene (Germany)
Metanomics
ExSeed Genetics LLC
BASF, the world’s largest chemical
company, holds 40% equity stake in
Svalof Weibull (see below).
Bayer (Germany)
Subsidiary: Bayer CropScience
Aventis CropScience (6/02)
AgrEvo
Plant Genetic Systems
Nunhems BV
Nunza BV
Sunseeds
Cannon Roth
Pioneer Vegetable Genetics
Dessert Seed
Leen de Mos (Neth. & Spain)
Castle Seed
Keystone Seed
Genex (Australia)
AgrEvo Cotton Seed Intl. (Australia)
Biogenetic Technologies
Sementes Ribeiral (Brazil)
Mitla Pesquisa Agricola (Brazil)
Sementes Fartura (Brazil)
Granja 4 Irmaos (Brazil)
Associated Farmers Delinting
Gustafson (3/04)
In 2002 Bayer purchased Aventis
CropScience (formed by the 1999
merger of Hoechst and Rhone
Poulenc). Nunhems is one of top 5
vegetable seed companies in the
world. Bayer CropScience 2004
annual seed sales: €311 million
DLF Trifolium (Denmark) DLF International Seeds (USA)
DLF-TRIFOLIUM Ltd. (UK)
Hladké Zlvotice s.r.o (Czek Rep.)
Top Green (France)
Prodana Seeds
DLF Group China
Danespo Holding A/S (50%)
DLF Seeds Ltd. (NZ)
DLF-TRIFOLIUM A/S, Moscow
DLF-TRIFOLIUM Deutschland
Cebeco Seeds Group (The Netherlands)
Cebeco Saaten GMBH
Cebeco Seeds S.R.O.
Cebeco-Verneuil GMBH & Co. KG
Cebeco Zaden B.V.
La Maison Des Gazons S.A.
N.V. Zaden Van Engelen S.A.
Oliver Seeds Ltd.
Proco Sem S.A.
World’s largest breeder of cool
season clover and grass seed.
Purchased Cebeco Seeds Group in
2003 (grains and flax). Annual
turnover US$320 million (for year
ending 31 May 2004).
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 7
Seed Company Subsidiaries/Acquisitions Comments
DLF Trifolium (continued) Seed Innovations Ltd.
Wiboltt Fro A/S
Delta & Pine Land (USA) Ellis Brothers Seed
Arizona Processing
Mississippi Seed Co.
Hartz Cotton
Sure Grow Seeds
D&PL South Africa, Inc.
D&PL Semillas Ltda (Costa Rica)
Deltapine Australia Pty. Ltd.
Turk DeltaPine, Inc. (Turkey)
Deltapine India Seed Private Ltd.
D&M International, LLC:
D&PL China Pte Ltd.
Hebei Ji Dai Cottonseed Technology
Company Ltd.
CDM Mandiyu S.R.L. (Argentina)
MDM Sementes De Algodao, Ltda.
(Brazil)
DeltaMax Cotton, LLC (50%)
World’s largest cotton seed
company. Developer of Terminator
Technology. Annual sales, 2004:
US$315 million
Dow Chemical Co. (USA)
Subsidiary: Dow Agrosciences
Mycogen
Agrigenetics
Cargill Hybrid Seeds
United Agriseeds
Morgan Seeds (Argentina)
Kelten & Lynks
Delta & Pine Land (corn & sorghum only)
Dinamilho Carol Productos (Brazil)
Hibridos Colorado Ltda. (Brazil)
FT Biogenetica de Milho (Brazil)
Phytogen (w/J.G. Boswell)
Empresa Brasileira de Sementes (Brazil)
In 1998, Mycogen, a biotech
company, became a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Dow Agrosciences. The
company specializes in maize,
sunflowers, soybeans, canola and
alfalfa.
Dupont (USA) Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl. (USA)
Pioneer Argentina S.A.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia Pty Ltd
Pioneer Hi-Bred Services GmbH (Austria)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Northern Europe
(Belgium)
Pioneer Sementes Ltda. (Brazil)
Pioneer Semena Bulgaria
Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited (Canada)
Semillas Pioneer Chile Ltda.
Shandong Denghai-PIONEER Seeds
(China)
DuPont de Colombia S.A.
Pioneer Sjeme d.o.o. (Croatia)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Services (Czech Rep.)
Misr Pioneer Seed Company (Egypt)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds (Ethiopia)
Pioneer Semences SAS (France)
Pioneer Hi-Bred N. Europe (Germany
Pioneer Hi-Bred Hellas (Greece)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Magyarország Kft.
(Hungary)
PHI Seeds Ltd. (India)
PT DuPont Indonesia
Pioneer Hi-Bred Italia
Pioneer Hi-Bred Japan
Farmchem Seedlinks Limited (Kenya)
Chemicals & Marketing Co. (Malawi)
PHI Mexico SA de CV
Pioneer Hi-Bred N. Europe (Neth.)
Genetic Technologies, Ltd. (New Zealand)
Pioneer Pakistan Seed Ltd
Melo & Cia, C.A. (Panama)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines
Pioneer Hi-Bred Services GmbH (Poland)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Sementes de Portugal
Pioneer Hi-Bred Puerto Rico
Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds Agro (Romania)
Dupont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred lost its
longstanding title as world’s largest
seed company in early 2005 when
Monsanto purchased Seminis.
Dupont now ranks number 2, with
2004 seed sales of $2,600 million.
Pioneer develops hybrids of corn,
sorghum, sunflower and canola, and
varieties of soybean, alfalfa and
wheat for worldwide markets. The
company has subsidiaries “on every
crop-producing continent of the
world.”
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 8
Seed Company Subsidiaries/Acquisitions Comments
Dupont (continued)
Pioneer Semena Holding GmbH (Russia)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Services (Serbia &
Montenegro)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Slovensko (Slovakia)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Services (Slovenia)
Pioneer Hi-Bred RSA (South Africa)
South Korea O.M.C.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Spain SL
Bytrade Tanzania Limited
Pioneer Hi-Bred (Thailand) Co.
Pioneer Tohumculuk (Turkey)
Pioneer Nasinnya Ukraine, LLC
Pioneer Hi-Bred N. Europe (UK)
Agar Cross Uruguaya S.A
Semillas Pioneer de Venezuela
Farmchem Services Ltd. (Zambia)
Pioneer Hi-Bred Zimbabwe
KWS AG (Germany)
AgReliant (joint venture with Limagrain)
AgroMais
APZ
Betaseed
CPB Twyford
KWS ARGENTINA
KWS AUSTRIA SAAT GMBH
KWS BENELUX
KWS CHILE
KWS FRANCE
KWS ITALIA
KWS KLOSTERGUT
WIEBRECHTSHAUSEN
KWS MAIS FRANCE
KWS MAIS GMBH
KWS OSIVA s.r.o.
KWS POLSKA
KWS RAGT HYBRID KFT
KWS RUS
KWS SAAT AG
KWS SCANDINAVIA AB
KWS Semena Bulgaria EOOD
KWS Semena d.o.o.
KWS Semena s.r.o.
KWS SEME YU
KWS SEMILLAS IBERICA
KWS Sjeme d.o.o.
S.C. KWS Seminte S.R.L.
KWS TÜRK
KWS Ukraine T.O.W.
Lochow-Petkus GmbH
Lochow-Petkus Polska
MOMONT
Pan Tohum
PLANTA
Razès Hybrides
SAKA-RAGIS
Semena AG
ZKW
Producers Hybrid
KWS specializes in sugar beets,
maize, cereals. Generates over 70%
of its revenue outside Germany. 4th
largest maize breeder in the US.
With annual sales of US$622 million
in 2004, KWS is world’s fifth largest
seed company.
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 9
Seed Company Subsidiaries/Acquisitions Comments
Landec Corp. (USA) Landec Ag Inc. (USA)
Heartland Seed US maize seed company. With
the acquisition of Heartland
Seed in 2005, the company’s
annual seed revenues are
approximately $34 million.
Land O Lakes (USA) Croplan Genetics
Hytest Seeds
Agriliance (joint venture with CHS, Inc.)
ABI Alfalfa
Seed Research of Oregon
Pickseed Companies Group
Seeds Ohio
Forage Genetics Inc.
Land O’ Lakes is a giant
agribusiness cooperative with
total sales of $7,700 million.
The company’s 2004 seed sales
were $538 million, specializing
in alfalfa, maize, soybeans and
forage and turf grasses. About
one-half of the seed sold by
Land O’Lakes is purchased from
Monsanto & Syngenta and then
sold to coops.
Groupe Limagrain (France) Vilmorin Clause & Cie
Advanta BV (European field crop
division)
Force Limagrain (France)
Limagrain (Bulgaria)
Limagrain Cental Europe (France)
Limagrain Ceska Rep (Czech Rep.)
Limagrain Genetics (France)
Limagrain (Italia)
Limagrain Magyaroszag (Hungary)
Limagrain Moldova
Limagrain Nederland
Limagrain Nickerson GmbH (Germany)
Limagrain Polska (Poland)
Limagrain Romania
Limagrain Slovensko
Limagrain Verneuil Holding
Mais Angevin Nickerson (France)
Nickerson UK
Nickerson Intl. Research (France)
Nickerson Sur (Spain)
Soltis (France)
Alliance Semillas (Chile)
CHMT (South Africa)
Clause Tezier Italia
Clause Tezier do Brasil
Clause UK
Clause-Tezier Iberica (Spain)
Clause Tezier (France)
Clause
CNOS Vilmorin (Poland)
Ferry-Morse (US)
Flora-Fey (Germany)
Flora-Fey (Austria)
Harris Moran
Henderson
Kyowa
Marco Polo
Niagra
AgReliant Genetics (joint venture
w/KWS)
AgReliant Genetics US (joint venture
w/KWS)
Hazera Genetics
Producers Hybrids (acquired by
AgReliant)
Limagrain is an independent
cooperative and the European
leader for maize and wheat
seeds. Its subsidiary, Vilmorin
Clause & Cie, is the world leader
for home garden seeds
(commercial). Limagrain’s 2004
turnover for field seeds,
vegetable seeds and garden
seeds was approximately
US$1,044 million.
Monsanto (USA) Seminis
Emergent Genetics
American Seeds Inc.
Channel Bio Corp.
Crow’s Hybrid Corn
Monsanto became the world’s
largest seed company in 2005 when
it purchased Seminis – the world’s
largest vegetable seed business for
$1.4 billion. Though traditionally a
chemical company, Monsanto now
earns more money from seeds and
biotech traits than from its pesticide
business. 2004 annual seed sales
(including Seminis): US$2,803
million.
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 10
Seed Company Subsidiaries/Acquisitions Comments
Monsanto (continued) Midwest Seed Genetics
Wilson Seeds
NC+Hybrids
Advanta Canola Seeds
Interstate Canola Seeds
Asgrow (soybean & corn)
Petoseed
Bruinsma
Holden’s Foundation
Jacob Hartz
Hybritech
Calgene
Agracetus
Plant Genetics Inc.
Ameri-Can Pedigreed
Monsoy (Brazil)
First Line Seeds (Canada)
Plant Breeding Intl. (UK)
Agroceres (Brazil)
Cargill’s intl. seed division
Dekalb Genetics (USA)
Custom Farm Seed
Sensako (South Africa)
chemical company, Monsanto now
earns more money from seeds and
biotech traits than from its pesticide
business. 2004 annual seed sales
(including Seminis): US$2,803
million.
Nidera Corporation (The
Netherlands)
Nidera Semillas (Argentina)
Nidera Sementes (Brazil) Nidera Seeds is a division within the
privately-owned Nidera Corporation,
a grain, oil seeds and oil processor
company. Nidera started in the seed
industry in 1988 with a program to
improve sunflowers, and has
expanded in crops such as corn,
soybean, grain sorghum, forage
sorghum, alfalfa and canola and
wheat. In 2005, Nidera acquired
Bayer’s corn & soybean interests in
Brazil. Annual turnover: approx.
US$80 million
Pannar Group (South Africa) Pau Seeds USA (formerly owned by
Bayer)
Pannar Genetics, Inc.
Kaystar Seed
Pannar Seeds, Inc. (US)
Kombat (South Africa)
Starke Ayres (South Africa)
Mascor (South Africa)
Pannar Seed Kenya
Pannar Seed Lda (Mozambique)
Pannar Seed Z (Zambia)
Pannar Seed BV (The Netherlands)
Founded in 1958, privately-held
Pannar Group is the largest seed
firm in Africa, with subsidiary
companies in several African
countries, the EU, US and Argentina.
Specializes in maize hybrids,
sunflower, grains, pasture seed. The
company does not publish or release
turnover or profit figures.
Saaten-Union GmbH Ltd.
(Germany)
Subsidiary companies in UK, Poland,
France, Romania.
Hybrinova (Dupont’s hybrid wheat
business)
Monsanto’s hybrid wheat business
Specializes in hybrid wheat.
2004/05 annual sales for the
German-based operations €134
million. The entire group had 04/05
turnover of approximately €155
million in 2004/05 (does not include
sugar beet activity).
Sakata (Japan) Sakata UK
Sakata Ornamentals UK
Sakata Holland
Sakata Ornamentals Europe (Denmark)
Frisa Planter (Denmark)
Sakata Polska (Poland)
Sakata Korea Co.
Sakata Seed (Suzhou) China
Sakata Siam Seed (Thailand)
Sakata Seed Oceania
Sakata Seed Corporation (India)
Sakata Vegetables Europe (France)
Sakata Middle East (Jordan)
MayFord Seeds (South Africa)
Founded in 1913, Sakata specializes
in vegetable and flower seeds and
ornamentals. The company has nine
offices in Japan and subsidiaries
worldwide. Annual seed sales: $416
million (for year ending May 31,
2004).
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 11
Seed Company Subsidiaries/Acquisitions Comments
Sakata (continued)
Sakata Vegenetics (South Africa)
Sakata Seed Iberica (Spain)
Alf Christianson Seed (USA)
Sakata Seed America (USA)
Sakata Seed de Mexico
Sakata Seed de Guatemala
Sakata Centroamerica (Costa Rica)
Sakata Seed Sudamerica (Brazil)
Sakata Seed Chile
Sakata Ornamentals (Chile)
Seminis – majority owned by
Fox Paine, a buyout firm
(sold in 2005)
Asgrow Seed Co.
Petoseed
Royal Sluis
Hungnong Seed Co. (S. Korea)
Ang Seed Co. (S. Korea)
Sementes Agroceres (vegetable seed
division)
Barham Seed
Monsanto (see above) acquired
Seminis, the world’s largest
producers of vegetable and fruit
seeds, in January 2005 for $1.4
billion.
Svalöf Weibull AB (Sweden) Danisko Seeds
SW Seed Canada
Newfield Seeds (Canada)
Riding Valley Agro (Canada)
Promark Seed (Canada)
Priority Lab Services (Canada)
Wheat City Seed (Canada)
SW is 60% owned by Lantmännen
(the Swedish Farmers Supply and
Crop Marketing Association) and
40% owned by BASF. The company
specializes in cereals, oilseeds,
forage crops. Annual sales: €116
million (2004)
Syngenta Advanta BV (North American corn and
soybean business – Garst brand)
Northrup King (NK)
Funk Seed Intl.
Rogers Bros.
Zaadunie BV (Neth.)
McNair Seed
Cokers Pedigreed
Fredonia
Hilleshog
Agritrading
CC Benoist
Maisadour Semences
Eridania Beghin-Soy
Golden Harvest (6/04)
Dia-Engei (Japan) 2/04
CHS Research LLC (04)
GA21 (technology) (04)
Syngenta was formed in 2000 when
Novartis merged with AstraZeneca’s
agribusiness.
In 2004, 52% of Syngenta’s seed
sales came from field crops; 48%
from vegetables and flowers. Annual
seed sales: US$1,239 million
Takii and Co., Ltd. (Japan) American Takii, Inc.
CTT Seed Co. (Thailand)
Qingdao Huang Long (China)
T.W. Company (Hong Kong)
Takii Chile
Takii Europe (Netherlands)
Takii France
Takii Korea Co.
Pahuja Takii Seed (India)
Takii do Brasil
Founded 1835 in Japan. Leading
vegetable and flower seed company.
Annual seed sales: $366 million (for
year ending April 2004).
Is Something Missing?
Given the pace of industry consolidation, we may be missing some important transactions. If you find
that information is missing on the seed industry chart, or if something should be changed, kindly
notify ETC Group, etc@etcgroup.org
ETC Group Communiqué, September/October 2005 12
1
Source: Monsanto. For FY ended August 31, 2004.
2
According to Limagrain, the company earned around 875 million euros from field, vegetable and garden seeds in
2004 (July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004). Using average historical currency exchange for the period, total 2003/04 seed
sales were approximately US$1,044 million. Personal communication with Jean-Claude Guillon, Corporate VP,
Strategy and Communication for Limagrain.
3
KWS AG Letter to Shareholders, May 2005 reports that FY 2004/05 ends June 30, 2005. Sales are expected to be
around Euro 488. Converted at exchange rate for the period (1.2745) the amount in US dollars is $622 million
4
About one-half of the seed sold by Land O’Lakes is purchased from Monsanto & Syngenta and then sold to coops.
As a result, some of these seed revenues are counted twice. Personal communication with seed division, Land
O’Lakes.
5
As of May 31, 2004 (most recent information available), Sakata’s annual turnover was 46,281 million Japanese
Yen, or US$415.6 million. See Sakata’s English language corporate website.
6
According to email received from Norbert Lemken, Bayer CropScience, August 17, 2005 the company’s total seed
turnover for 2004 was €311 million. Based on calendar 2004 exchange rate, 1.24386 x 311 = $US386.84 million.
7
As of 4/30/04 Takii’s annual turnover was 41,000 million Yen, or US$366.5 million. See Takii’s corporate global
website.
8
Information provided by DLF-Trifolium, 8/24/05. For year ending May 31, 2004.
9
Source: International Seed Federation, Seed Statistics, on the Internet:
http://worldseed.org/statistics.htm#TABLE%201
10
Phillips McDougall, “Seed Industry Consolidation,” July 2005. Unpublished report. Phillips McDougall estimates
the value of the commercial seed market to be US$19,000 million.
11
According to ISAAA, 200 million acres were planted in GM crops. According to Monsanto, its biotech trait
acreage covered 175.7 million acres in 2004.
12
Source: Monsanto, “Monsanto Biotechnology Trait Acreage: Fiscal Years 1996 to 2004,” www.monsanto.com
13
Source: Monsanto, “Seminis. Acquisition, Investor Conference Call,” Jan. 24, 2005.
www.monsanto.com/monsanto/content/ investor/financial/presentations/2005/01-24-05_low.pdf
14
Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo and David Schimmelpfennig, “Have Seed Industry Changes Affected Research Effort?”
Amber Waves, USDA Economic Research Service, February 2004. On the Internet:
http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/February04/Features/HaveSeed.htm
15
Ibid.
16
You can track the number of biotech acres being planted and harvested on a daily basis here:
http://www.truthabouttrade.org/article.asp?id=3744
17
Ken Belcher, James Nolan, Peter W.B. Phillips, “Genetically modified crops and agricultural landscapes: spatial
patterns of contamination,” Ecological Economics 53 (2005) 387-401.
18
Delta & Pine Land, “Technology Protection System: Providing the Potential to Enhance Biosafety and
Biodiversity in Production Agriculture,” a brochure distributed by D&PL in February 2005 at a United Nations
meeting in Bangkok.
19
GRAIN, Seedling, July 2005. http://www.grain.org/seedling/?type=45
20
Charles M. Benbrook, “Genetically Engineered Crops and Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Nine
Years.” Biotech InfoNet, Technical Paper Number 7, October 2004.
21
Pesticide Action Network Updates Service, “Rethinking RoundUp,” August 5, 2005. See also: Sophie Richard,
Safa Moslemi, Herbert Sipahutar, Nora Benachour, and Gilles-Eric Seralini, Environmental Health Perspectives,
Vol. 113, No. 6 June 2005, http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/7728/7728.html; Rick A. Relyea, “The Impact of
Insecticides and Herbicides on the Biodiversity and Productivity of Aquatic Communities,”
Ecological Applications, v.15, n.2, 1 April 2005 http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/2005/Roundup-Aquatic-
Communities1apr05.htm
