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Dow expresses interest in Syngenta’s seed business

The CEO of Dow says the company would be interested in Syngenta’s seed business if Monsanto were to acquire Syngenta.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg Business, Andrew Liveris said Dow would consider the opportunity to expand its seed business.

“If there’s a round of consolidation that makes sense for our shareholders, we will be at the table no matter what,” Liveris said. “We’ve said that over and over.”

Monsanto officials have said that, should Syngenta accept its buyout offer, they (Monsanto) will divest Syngenta’s seeds and genetic traits businesses in order to win regulatory approval for the takeover.

Some in the ag community are concerned with the potential merger and consolidation trends in the industry. But in a recent interview with Brownfield, Monsanto chief technology officer Dr. Robb Fraley said he thinks most farmers understand the concept of continued growth and expansion.

“There aren’t many farmers who I talk to who, when the piece of land across from their house comes up for sale, they want to acquire that land—because it improves their operations, it improves their synergies, it improves their ability to produce more for their families,” Fraley says.

AUDIO: Robb Fraley

In June, the National Farmers Union board of directors passed a resolution opposing the potential merger. The group says the new entity created by such a merger would dwarf other agribusinesses and eliminate a competitor in the marketplace, potentially resulting in an increase in price for seeds and other inputs.

So far, Syngenta has rejected Monsanto’s offers to buy the company.