Dark History of Monsanto

Monsanto is one of the largest pharmaceutical and agricultural companies that producers a wide range of genetically modified foods and seeds, drugs and pesticides and herbicides. This multibillion dollar company has branches in 100 different countries and is the main producer of genetically modified crops and seeds in the world.

Monsanto has been around since 1901 and makes billions of dollars a year in pure profit from selling toxic chemicals and pesticides. In 1977, Monsanto sold its chemical business and got heavily engaged in biotechnology and genetically modifying corn and soybeans.

Here is a summary of Monsanto’s dark history:

The founder of Monsanto was John Francis Queeny and he started Monsanto with the capital money her earned from Coca-Cola in 1901. In 1902, Monsanto sold its first product called “Saccharin” (the artificial sweetener) to Coca-Cola Company.

By 1905 Monsanto began to make profit by selling vanillin and caffeine. In 1906, the US governments started regulating and inspecting meat products but somehow even up to today companies like ConAgra and Monsanto are exempt from regulations since they pay and donate for politicians, research facilities, schools and even USDA framework.

During WW2, Francis Queeny couldn’t import chemicals from Europe and stared manufacturing its own chemical products. In 1929, Monsanto went public and became the largest producer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Although PCBs were banned in 1970s, they still remain in water along Dead Creek in Sauget where Monsanto had its plant for manufacturing PCBs. PCBs were widely used as lubricants, cutting oils and hydraulic fluids until scientific evidences showed that PCBs are one of the deadliest carcinogens and chemicals tlinked to anuto immune system disorder, birth defects, cancer and fatal death.

The first manufacturing plant of PCBs was in Illinois that still has one of the highest rate of immature birth and birth defect. The scientists at Monsanto knew about the health risks associated with PCBs but they couldn’t afford to lose business when it was making money at the time.

In 1935, Monsanto gets involved in detergents and soap production and by 1938 Monsanto becomes largely involved in plastic business. From 1939 to 1945 Monsanto did a lot of research on enriching uranium for Manhattan project.

During WW2, Monsanto was involved in creation of the first nuclear bomb in Manhattan project and was involved in production of PCBs, DDT and chemical weapons that was sprayed on the Vietnamese civilians and American troops during the Vietnam War.

In 1945, Monsanto used its warfare chemicals in agriculture and by 1955 Monsanto's assets were increased by 50%. From 1975 to 1967 Monsanto was involved in creation of several Disney land’s attraction that was entirely built by non biodegradable plastic. When Disney decided to tear them down, they couldn’t even break the pieces by chain saws or shovels so they had to squeeze the big pieces of the non biodegradable plastic into a truck.

From 1961 to 1971 Monsanto was involved in production of Agent Orange for military use during the Vietnam War. More than 4.8 million Vietnamese civilians were contaminated with Agent Orange. About 400,000 Vietnamese died as a result of Agent Orange and millions including children suffered from disabilities and birth defects.

In 1968, Son of John Queeny, Edgar Queeny dies and since he didn’t have any heirs Edward J. Block (who joined Monsanto as an engineer) became president.

By 1972, the use of DDT was banned by congress so in 1973 Monsanto developed glyphosate molecule for killing weeds and pests. Monsanto still markets Roundup as safe, although glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup) has been linked to a wide range of health problems.

After selling Roundup, Monsanto’s sales grew by 20% and from 1980s to 1990s Roundup made 45% of the company’s income. Even up to this day, glyphosate is one of the top selling herbicides in the market. In 1985, Monsanto bought Searle Company which was the producer of artificial sweetener called 'aspartame' used in carbonated beverages. Aspartame is a toxic substance added to diet sodas for sugar replacement.

In 1987, Monsanto did its first test on genetically modified crops. After making huge profit from selling Agent Orange, in 1987 Monsanto had to pay 180 million dollars settlement to the veterans of the Vietnam War. However no compensation was paid to the Vietnamese civilians who suffered mostly.

In 1994, Monsanto released rBGH and rBST growth hormones into the market. Bovine growth hormone have been linked to early puberty and breast and prostate cancer.

In 1995, Monsanto's genetically modified canola oil was shipped to Canada. By 1995, Monsanto was ranked 5th among other corporations for releasing more than 37 million pounds of toxic chemicals to the environment. As Monsanto started focusing more on biotechnology it expanded its propaganda on genetically modified crops and seeds into feeding the world hunger. Monsanto invented a new genetically modified crop that was resistant to its best selling herbecide Roundup.

By 1997, Monsanto bought other seeds companies and was dominating the market with its new genetically modified seeds known as GMO canola, GMO cotton and GMO corn.

Based on Monsanto’s claims Roundup is environmentally friendly and biodegradable, however in 1997, Monsanto was sued for calling Toxic Roundup 'environmentally safe'.

From 1997 to 2002 Monsanto became too big to fail and they spent more than 10 billion dollars worldwide to buy seeds companies.

Today, Monsanto is the world largest seed company dominating the global seed market. In 2001, Monsanto owned 91% of GMO crops worldwide.

In 2006, organic farmers who were concerned about the impacts of GMO alfalfa sued Monsanto. In 2007, the use of rBGH and hormones were widely increased in livestock.

Today, Monsanto owns 80% of genetically modified crops and the sales of Roundup has made Monsanto the 5th largest agrochemical company in the world. With US holding 30% of world’s market share for wheat, Monsanto has made a fortune from its new “Roundup Ready wheat”.

These multibillion dollar companies are so powerful that despite tough US sanctions on Iran, biotech companies are selling Iran GMO wheat.

Although Obama promised to label GMOs, he appointed the key figures of biotech companies as head of FDA and USDA. Here is the list: