The world’s three largest seed companies are all in talks about possible mergers. That could create a new landscape for farmers buying seeds, fertilizer and possibly even machinery.
Monsanto, Syngenta and DuPont Pioneer are all in merger talks. And already, they together control more than 50 percent of the seed market. Iowa State University economist Chad Hart says the U.S. Justice Department will evaluate the risk of anti-trust violations and threats to competition.
"Will you see a slowdown in the development of some products? Because typically competition helps breed that product innovation," he says.
Hart says if the mergers go through, agriculture would still have a Big Three, but each would be much more than just a seed company—selling fertilizer and other farm inputs as well.
