Studie "The GMO-emperor has no clothes" (engl.) - Nabu

VI. The History of Monsanto
A. Timeline: 1901-2009*
Over its 108-year history, Monsanto Co (MON.N), the world’s largest seed company, has evolved
from primarily an industrial chemical concern into a pure agricultural products company. Following is a
timeline of the St. Louis, Missouri-based company’s history published by Reuters, 11 November 2009.
! 1901 - Original Monsanto founded as a maker
of saccharine by John F. Queeny and named after
his wife, Olga Monsanto Queeny.
! 1920s and 1930s - Manufacturers sulfuric acid
and other chemicals, including polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), which are later implicated in
reproductive, developmental and immune system
disorders.
! 1940s - Manufactures plastics and synthetic
fabrics
! 1960s - Establishes agricultural division with
focus on herbicides.
! 1962-1971 - Becomes one of principal
companies supplying herbicide known as Agent
Orange to U.S. military for use in Vietnam War.
Agent Orange is later linked to various health
problems, including cancer.
! 1976 - Commercializes Roundup herbicide,
which goes on to be a top seller around the world.
! 1982 - Some 2,000 people are relocated from
Times Beach, Missouri, after area is contaminated
with PCB by-product dioxin. Critics say a St.
Louis-area Monsanto chemical plant was a source
but company denies any connection.
! 1994 - Wins regulatory approval for its first
biotech product, a dairy cow hormone called
Posilac.
! 1996 - Introduces first biotech crop, Roundup
Ready soybeans, which tolerate spraying
of Roundup herbicide, and biotech cotton
engineered to resist insect damage.
!"1997 - Spins off its industrial chemical and
fibers business into Solutia Inc amid complaints
and legal claims about pollution from its plants.
Introduces new biotech canola, cotton and corn,
and buys foundation seed companies.
! 1998 - Introduces Roundup Ready corn.
! 2000-2002 - Restructures in deal with
Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc; separates agricultural
and chemicals businesses and becomes standalone
agricultural company.
! 2002-2003 - Jury finds Monsanto plant in
Anniston, Alabama, polluted community with
PCBs. Monsanto and Solutia agree to pay $600
million to settle claims brought by 20,000
Anniston residents of PCB ground and water
contamination.
! 2003 - Solutia files Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
! 2004 - Monsanto forms American Seeds Inc
holding company for corn and soybean seed deals
and begins brand acquisitions.
! 2005 - Environmental, consumer groups
question safety of Roundup Ready crops, say they
create “super weeds,” among other problems.
! 2006-2007 - Buys several regional seed
companies and cotton seed leader Delta and Pine
Land Co. Competitors allege Monsanto gaining
seed industry monopoly.
! 2008 - Acquires sugarcane breeding companies,
and a Dutch hybrid seed company. Sells Posilac
business amid consumer and food industry
concerns about the dairy cow hormone
supplement.
! 2008-2009 - U.S. Department of Justice says
it is looking into monopolistic power in the U.S.
seed industry.
! 2009 - Posts record net sales of $11.7 billion
and net income of $2.1 billion for fiscal 2009.
Announces project to improve the living
conditions of 10,000 small cotton and corn
farmers in 1,100 villages in India; donates cotton
technology to academic researchers.
*http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/11/foodmonsanto-idUSN1032100920091111
49