Page - February 8, 2010
Drivers of Industrial and
Chemical-intensive Farming
The last 60 years have witnessed a rapid increase in the
concentration of commercial control by a handful of companies over
the sale of planting seed for the world's major traded crops. By
1999, seven companies controlled a high percentage of global seed
sales and the concentration has since increased through takeovers
and company mergers.
The budgets of the leading six agrochemical companies in
2001-2002 combined equaled $3.2 billion. Compare that to the total
budget of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR) - whose mission is "to achieve sustainable food
security and reduce poverty in developing countries through
scientific research and research-related activities in the fields
of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, policy, and environment."
CGIAR's budget in 2003 of $330 million, was nearly one-tenth that
of the agrochemical companies.
Learn More about the Agro-chemical
Complex