SYNGENTA TO END PARQUAT PRODUCTION
Good news!
It’s been reported that Syngenta, a Chinese-owned multinational company synonymous with “big ag”, has decided to end the production of the herbicide Parquat, a product with known links to Parkinson’s disease amongst users. (The Guardian)
Parquat is described as a highly toxic, non-discriminatory herbicide, that has been banned in many countries around the world, including the host country of it’s owner, China. But it’s not banned here in the US, despite over 6,500 lawsuits brought against Parquat due to the adverse health affects farmers experiences after working with it.
Perhaps even more disturbing is the pattern of cover-up we’ve seen by parent company, Syngenta. Syngenta’s own scientists have tried to blow the whistle on the chemical for years, and have experienced threats, intimidation, harassment, and silencing. And this has been going on for a very long time. Internal records from Syngenta that have been released during litigation show that the company knew about the link as early as the 1950s. (Levin Law)
Parquat is chiefly used on 3 major US crops: corn, soybeans, and cotton. It is used in areas where plants become resistant to glyphosate (Round Up), another toxic herbicide that is linked to disease and death of people who come into contact with it.
So- what does any of this have to do with flowers and flower farming? Aside from the obvious application of Parquat in US agricultural areas, its important to recognize the far reaching nature of Syngenta and its Chinese parent company.
If you attend regional and national cut flower farming association conferences and trade shows, you’re likely to encounter Syngenta. They may not be trying to sell you Parquat. Instead, they might be drumming up interest for their seeds or plugs. Their rooted chrysanthemum and dahlia cuttings have gained in popularity amongst flower farmers. Syngenta also owns chemical post harvest treatments like Chrysal.
Of greater concern to many American farmers, however, is the corporate land grab Syngenta is making for US farms. In 2023, officials in Arkansas demanded that Syngenta return over 160 acres of land that it had purchased through a subsidiary seed company. With this move, Craighead County and the State of Arkansas became the first in the US to remove the Chinese company from land it purchased. (Arkansas Advocate).
In addition to buying seed production, agricultural chemical companies, and land, Syngenta as also invested significant money into a partnership with Maersk for the purpose of improving existing sea ports for the transport of agricultural goods.(Maersk)
Thus: Syngenta owns the land, the seed, the supplies, and the means to move the products where they like. It’s a concerning monopolistic trend that could determine who in the world will get to eat and who will not.
News of the end of the production of Parquat is good news. We are relived to hear that this product will be pulled from shelves. We stand with all the families and farmers affected by Parquat and wish them much luck their search for justice.
Informed consumers wishing to halt the pervasive reach of Syngenta in the floral industry can request that organizations, conferences, and trade shows reject sponsorship opportunities from Syngenta, can boycott Syngenta products from resellers like Ball Hort and Farmer Bailey, and can avoid purchasing other Syngenta chemicals like the post harvest care dips and drenches. Cold clean water and storage at the proper temperature can give flowers a nice long vase life, when harvested properly in the morning.