Chapter 507: The Invincible Nongda
Dan Jenkins walked into the cramped cubicle where Hugh Grant sat, looking as elegant and calm as the media and the board had praised him for.

Only those who are familiar with him know that behind his calm face are ferocious fangs.

During the years that Hugh Grant was chief strategist for Roundup, Monsanto defeated many chemical competitors.

Not a single farmer has benefited from Monsanto.

It's like this all over the world.

Jinkens believes that this time will be no exception. The farmers are not to be feared, but the forces behind the farmers are worrying.

Hugh Grant waved his hand and said, "Sit down, Jenkins, you should bring me good news."

Jenkins had a pile of documents in his hand and he took out a few newspapers from the top.

“Anti-Monsanto farmer groups emerged in every state, and agricultural scientists were trumpeting the Roundup system as an agricultural disaster.”

Grant took it and glanced at it. The people on the cover were all familiar figures.

They are basically scholars once funded by Monsanto.

"It looks like the competitor has made a move."

“We should stop funding these agricultural scientists,” suggested Jinkens.

Grant nodded and said, "Let's do as you say and give the money to those who speak for us."

"Another troubling thing," Jinkens said, "is the news coming from the EPA that the World Health Organization intends to take tough measures against glyphosate, labeling it a 'probable human carcinogen.'"

Grant's calm expression finally changed.

While drug resistance is still a manageable problem, this news is a complete bombshell.

“The activists are so well organized!” Grant glanced again at the agricultural scientists on the cover. “Like sharks smelling blood.”

Grant stared at Jinkens again. "So, my Regulatory Affairs Specialist, how are you coordinating with the EPA and the Department of Agriculture?"

Jinkens pulled out another document and handed it to Grant with both hands. "This is the federal government's approval document for new genetically modified seeds."

Grant said with satisfaction: "Very good, then we have passed the final regulatory hurdle."

Jinkens asked, "What about the World Health Organization?"

Grant said in a deep voice: "Use all your connections to prevent or delay the WHO from issuing this report!"

"Also, continue to engage the EPA to have them issue a contrary determination that glyphosate is 'not likely to cause cancer in humans.'"

“Finally, we looked for ghostwriters and organizations to write articles to prove that glyphosate is not dangerous as long as it is used properly.”

Jenkins was the key person in liaison with federal agencies. Grant communicated with him privately before convening a meeting of managers at Monsanto headquarters.

Instructions were issued one after another.

Roundup is the best-selling pesticide product in history, and because of this flagship product, Monsanto has become rich for decades.

Monsanto then plowed the money from Roundup into a 'disgustingly high, outrageous marketing' budget.

At that time, any printed material that people could get their hands on, from Country Weekly to various other magazines, would say "Buy Roundup, Buy Roundup."

Driving through Missouri, farmers often see billboards promoting Monsanto products.

Now, Grant has chosen the same approach.

Throw money!

Make a path with huge profits!
Grant has worked for Monsanto since the 1980s, and Roundup is a brand he is familiar with and loves.

There was no way he was going to give up the weed killer that had brought him to this position!

Yet farmers suffered from Grant’s favorite chemical.

When Grant gave the order, Monsanto executives rushed around, and similarly, the anti-Monsanto wave among agricultural scientists reached a new climax.

Mark Rocks is the kind of man farmers trust.

He has been a weed scientist and state extension specialist at Ohio State University since more than three decades ago.

Like Professor Johnson in Arkansas, he visited Ohio's soybean and corn fields in a Chevrolet truck sponsored by corporate backers, racking up astonishing mileage.

This experienced and knowledgeable agricultural expert is tall, has gray hair and a deep and hoarse voice.

Sounds convincing when delivering serious advice on the latest science on weed control techniques.

"I must first acknowledge that, like the work of most weed scientists across the country, my research has been funded by Monsanto for many years."

“But I’m certainly not a Monsanto guy.”

The dozens of scholars in attendance all laughed knowingly. State and federal university funding is decreasing, and agricultural science departments welcome funding from big companies.

Mark Rocks continued: “When weed resistance issues began to emerge federally in the early 21s, I was on the front lines.

The first one is Erigeron canina.

Crop scientists at the University of Delaware discovered its resistance to glyphosate, but Monsanto disagrees with the findings.

Next came Amaranth vine and giant ragweed, and more and more weeds are showing this problem.

I am not surprised at all because it is best for humans to never gamble with Mother Nature, which is exactly what Monsanto is doing.

Excessive use of herbicides has put tremendous evolutionary pressure on weed species, forcing them to mutate genetically.

This is true for Tribulus terrestris, Dodder and red fire ants. It is a typical Darwinian story of the law of survival.

And the origins come from Monsanto's algorithm of selling more and more chemicals year after year.

It's getting ugly, Monsanto wants to be the 'gatekeeper' of weed resistance..."

At this moment, one of the scholars present at the conference stood up and walked towards the stage step by step.

Immediately, this person attracted the attention of the whole audience.

"It's Rowan Meeker, what does he want?"

"I remember he was a representative of Monsanto. Who invited him?"

Rowan Meeker showed no sign of stage fright. He walked up to the stage and stood opposite Mark Rocks. He shouted, "You obviously don't know what you are talking about?"

“What did Monsanto do wrong?”

"They solved the farmers' problems. Without the upgraded Roundup Ready system, federal lands would still be plagued by caltrops!"

Locks was furious: "But it caused a bigger problem, farmers were dragged into a bigger trap, and dicamba did not pass regulatory review at all!"

Rowan Mick raised the document in his hand and said sarcastically, "But now we have the approval from the federal government!"

The audience was in an uproar.

Rocks also said it was impossible, but Rowan Meek handed him the document. Rowan Meek would not forge it in front of so many people.

What's more, it can be checked at any time.

Rowan Meeker raised his lips, observed everything on the scene, and said: "For a brand new product, it takes a very long time to obtain meaningful data.

Given the rampant infestation of caltrops three years ago, there is no time to delay any further.

Farmers then continued to use Monsanto’s technology, and Monsanto also intended to provide this technology to farmers. It was a fair and just partnership!”

Locks felt that his professional ethics had been challenged, and he flew into a rage, "You are not welcome here, get out now!"

Rowan Meek sneered: "You don't have the power, and I have to supervise you to prevent you from spreading rumors and slandering others!"

Locks said angrily: "We are telling the truth. The volatility of dicamba will not only cause disaster to all farmlands in the federation, but will also give rise to more terrible weeds."

"But not now," Rowan Meeker said. "I want to warn you that lawyers are here, and we may send someone to the lab to review your work. Those who have challenged Monsanto have had terrible consequences."

The scene was silent. Rowan Meek looked around with an indescribable arrogance on his face.

If Hugh Grant saw this scene, he would definitely be dissatisfied. Such an arrogant Monsanto is not the image he wants to show to the public.

But arrogance is ingrained into Monsanto's DNA.

Just like himself, he never thought of giving up Roundup and tried to make the upgraded Roundup-resistant system enter more markets.

Just like his new goal at this moment.

On this day, Monsanto held a press conference and the Vietnamese government approved the use of Monsanto's genetically modified products in Vietnam.

The anti-Roundup revolution has spread to Vietnam.

After the news came out, media around the world reprinted and reported it immediately, and many people called it incredible.

As the biggest victim of Agent Orange, Vietnam and Monsanto have a deep-seated feud.

One thing is clear: Monsanto has the financial resources to bring about change in Vietnam.

But to this day, Monsanto has given no signal that it is interested in participating in humanitarian relief related to Vietnam.

It was even exempted from paying anything for the Agent Orange relief program in Vietnam, with federal taxpayers footing the bill.

Instead, Monsanto offered something else to the Vietnamese people: genetically modified corn seeds.

Ironically, the Monsanto corn seed 'launch ceremony' held in Ho Chi Minh City was extraordinarily grand.

Several huge tents were set up at the event site, each capable of accommodating hundreds of people.

During the celebration, which lasted several days, many farmers accepted Monsanto seeds.

Ruan Honglan is one of those who believes it.

She converted about 10 acres of rice fields into farmland specifically for growing Monsanto's genetically modified corn.

“Now I can rest easier knowing I have to worry less about the major weeds and pests in my corn fields,” she said.

After her, others followed suit.

A local Vietnamese newspaper reported: "Monsanto agents have trained more than 200 farmers in more than 1.6 locations."

The whole world was stunned by this.

The global anti-Monsanto and anti-GMO organizations seemed to have suffered a heavy blow at this moment!
Completely incomprehensible.

How come the Vietnamese let Monsanto off?

Not only did he let him go, he was also brought back into the house.

In fact, Hugh Grant had been planning for this moment for a long time. Many years ago, Monsanto became an important economic partner of the Vietnamese government, academia, research institutions, and universities through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

The timing of the Vietnamese government's approval of Monsanto's genetically modified products was just right, which helped it regain some momentum in the federal government.

What is even more outrageous is that the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and even the President have all made statements in favor of Monsanto, either directly or indirectly.

Soon after, some authoritative organizations also began to support Monsanto.

"At a time when federal agricultural production was in the dark, it was this company that solved the problem of resistant weeds and allowed federal agricultural production to resume normalcy."

"Monsanto is a pioneer in biotechnology!"

"Look at this year's crop yields and listen to the voices of frontline farmers. Soybeans, cotton and corn have all had good harvests."

“Things are moving in the right direction.”

At the federal level, Monsanto's influence permeates every aspect of government.

As India's agricultural production dropped significantly, the U.S. agricultural product export market rebounded significantly, and farmers of all sizes who persisted had a bumper year.

Media in every state of the federation began reporting on farmers who had made money.

Funny, humorous, energetic...

This is in stark contrast to farmers who do not grow crops genetically modified to be resistant to both Roundup and dicamba.

The voices of victims and beneficiaries are heard one after another, leaving the entire federation in a state of division.

At this time, Monsanto's global strategist issued an explanation and advice.

"Monsanto has taken some radical measures to stop resistant weeds like Tribulus terrestris from continuing to harm federal agriculture, but they are a last resort.

Here we recommend to the affected farmers to adopt the upgraded Roundup Ready solution as soon as possible.

Finally, the company is developing other categories of Roundup- and dicamba-resistant crops.

If the Roundup Ready System Program is discontinued, Tribulus terrestris will likely return, and the federal government will suffer even greater losses!"

Monsanto admitted its mistakes, but it also seemed like it had admitted nothing, leaving the farmers who suffered losses in tears.

Other major seed and chemical companies were also cast in the shadows.

The federal government's attitude is also very clear. Compared with the harm caused by the new dicamba formula, Tribulus terrestris is obviously more terrifying.

Tribulus terrestris attacks all farmland and crops regardless of species.

Monsanto's plan can at least save crops that are resistant to Roundup and dicamba.

What's more, there is Monsanto's activities behind the scenes.

At least, in America, the anti-Monsanto wave has been stopped.

Hugh Grant is very satisfied with the company's recent performance and he also received praise from the board of directors.

Monsanto has overcome its federal public opinion crisis, and now it will start dealing with its opponents.

Corteva, Sinochem Seminis, Limagrain, Bayer, LASFISH, and the small Karami Tianhe Seeds in the North American market.

The biggest rival is undoubtedly Corteva.

This is a new company formed by the integration of Dow AgroSciences and DuPont's agricultural departments, inheriting the assets of Dow and DuPont.

This time, Corteva is definitely involved in tripping Monsanto behind the scenes.

In fact, due to the volatile nature of dicamba, all seed companies pursuing the federal market are enemies of Monsanto.

Because it will kill all crops that are not Roundup and Dicamba tolerant.

Monsanto also has a dicamba formula that can inhibit volatilization, but there is no need. This time, Roundup wants a monopoly!
The federal crisis will be an opportunity for Monsanto, and Roundup will move towards new glory in Grant's hands!

(End of this chapter)