Swiss activists protest global agribusiness titans

Swiss protesters in Basel join in the worldwide demonstrations against agribusiness titans Keystone

Demonstrations in two Swiss cities drew more than 2,000 activists in all on Saturday to voice concerns about the business practices of agrochemical corporations Monsanto and Syngenta.

The assemblies in Basel, the Swiss city where Syngenta is based, and Morges, home to Monsanto’s headquarters for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, were largely peaceful with demonstrators climbing over some barriers that blocked access to the sites.

Organisers had called for the peaceful protests as part of a worldwide “March Against Monsanto” campaign to call attention to chemical products they consider to be health threats. The first such protest was held in the United States in 2013, but never before in Basel, where hundreds turned out.

Swiss activists donned outfits to dress as scarecrows and bees as dozens of police observed. The resistance from non-governmental groups could pose political obstacles to a merger of the seeds and pesticides makers if it were to proceed.

Monsanto’s $45 billion (CHF42.5 billion) takeover offer for its Swiss rival would strengthen its position as the world’s largest developer of genetically modified crops. The board of Syngenta, the world’s largest producer of crop chemicals, has rejected Monsanto’s takeover bid.

But environmental activists worry that if a merger were to eventually succeed, Monsanto would be in a better position to pressure farmers on genetic diversity and pricing and could gain leverage over governments trying to control genetically modified organisms. Monsanto has said it is still interested in buying Syngenta.