Discursive power in the global political economy of agriculture and food: the case of the Bayer-Monsanto merger

Abstract

Several mergers of big and powerful companies have led to a concentration in the global seed and agrochemical market to currently four big players. Public concerns about consequences for food security, the environment, or innovation in the market arose over this. Thus, the mergers were met with broad opposition, mainly from civil society, when they were announced. The companies, on the other hand, tried to reach the merger at as little cost and with as little interference as possible. During such struggles, different forms of power exerted by different actors are at play and influence the outcome. So far, very little research has examined the discursive power relations in the agrichemical merger context. This study explores what role discursive power relations in Europe played in the specific example of the Bayer-Monsanto merger. A critical discourse analysis (Fairclough) is conducted on press releases from both the merger opponents and the two merger companies, Bayer and Monsanto. Discourses and frames are identified and extracted, and their power is defined through reflection on prevalent social practices and norms. The study concludes that the discursive power relations played a relatively marginal role in the outcome of the Bayer- Monsanto merger itself. For different reasons, the opponents did not manage to discursively trigger the necessary social change and action required to achieve a change in the currently existing agrochem merger regulations in Europe. However, there are strong indications that the discursive practices of the opponents will influence the agrochem market in Europe in the longer term.