Earlier this week, glyphosate was banned in Vietnam, meaning the herbicide won’t be allowed to be manufactured or imported into the country going forward.
There has been no mention of impacts on grain imports and whether or no maximum residue limits will be altered. Currently Vietnam is the third largest destination for Australian origin wheat.
Last month, another jury found glyphosate to be a substantial cause in a user’s cancer. There remains over 4,000 cancer patients filing legal action against Monsanto, which have been ongoing since prior to the company being purchased by Bayer in early 2018.
Now, this is a bit of a tin hat theory, but one I’ve considered since this purchase, because the first question I asked when Bayer made the purchase was “why would you buy a company with so many outstanding legal claims and so much uncertainty surrounding the future of glyphosate?”
These companies are motivated my money and returns for their shareholders, which is fine. But it led me to this theory which I have no evidence for but explains what’s going on.
Monsanto have taken a very aggressive stance with any claims against the herbicide. They have fought legal claims against them and continue deny any wrong doing.
Bayer on the other hand are much less aggressive. When they comment on the court cases, they imply that they are fine to comply with the court’s ruling.
The serious money to be made out of chemicals is while it is still under patent, which glyphosates patent expired in 1991. Now, the vast majority of the worlds glyphosate is made in China by competing companies.
So, here’s my conspiracy…
Bayer have ‘something’ new and ‘better’ than glyphosate. Glyphosate was declared by Monsato scientists in 2008 that it was a once in a century discovery, but one day Bayer will say ‘yeah, you’re right, glyphosate is bad stuff, and we support phasing it out’.
We’ll buy their alternative because it’s still cheaper than the cost of ‘nothing’, but Bayer will have the luxury of producing and selling it without competition because it is under patent.
Like I say, it’s a bit of a tin hat theory (and by the way, yes I believe man went to the moon and the Earth is a sphere), but something to consider as you’re cracking open the glyphosate shuttles this month.