mergers Archives - Manitoba Co-operator

Editorial: Grain business consolidation and concentration

By Laura Rance-Unger May 13, 2024

Press releases are often notable because of what they don’t say. Then again, sometimes they unintentionally speak volumes. For example, consider the official statements coming from the Glencore team related to their role in the continuing consolidation and concentration of the grain handling business in Canada. In 2012, when Glencore announced it was acquiring Viterra,

News

Producers called to speak on Bunge-Viterra merger

Canada’s Competition Bureau is reviewing the deal, but some farm groups call for further government action

By Geralyn Wichers October 13, 2023

Producers who have something to say about the merger of Bunge and Viterra have been given a platform. The Manitoba Canola Growers Association is calling on its members to provide feedback on the deal. A survey has been launched by the group, based on questions from the Competition Bureau, the MCGA said in an Oct.

As Canada’s competition watchdog, the Competition Bureau can review mergers to determine if they will be harmful to competitiveness. But since its introduction in 1986, it has only challenged 18 mergers and has never won a challenge on final judgment.

Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Lack of competition makes for sick market

Increasing monopoly power poses a threat to Canada’s post-pandemic economic recovery

By Garros Gong August 2, 2023

Canada is grappling with a significant economic issue: market concentration. A select few corporations dominate key sectors, leading to reduced competition, rising prices and limited purchase options for consumers. Canada’s grocery industry is a prime example. A recent report from the Competition Bureau found that lack of competition in the grocery sector is resulting in

‘There are reams of data in the report, particularly in three key focus areas: seeds, meatpacking, and food retail. We — the “us” outside of the USDA — need to draw our own conclusions.’

Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Agribusiness competition and the danger of the middle road

Hemming and hawing avoids tougher action and ‘us’

By Alan Guebert August 2, 2023

After plowing through a 57-page U.S. Department of Agriculture report titled “Concentration and Competition in U.S. Agribusiness,” I asked an agronomist friend who had also read the report why it seemed that its writers used so much “hem-and-haw” language in analyzing, for example, the rise of today’s powerful seed companies. “I’m less interested in the

Viterra and G3 are dominant in wheat, while Bunge is dominant in canola, soy and corn. Combining them gives one company massive market power over the largest crops grown in and exported by Canada.

Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Bunge-Viterra merger has drastic implications for Canadian farmers

It’s time for farmers to once again have an owning stake in the grain system

By Cathy Holtslander July 25, 2023

Just five companies, known as the ABCD group, control up to 90 per cent of the world grain trade — and the B in this group is about to get much bigger. B is for Bunge, which has announced it is in the process of buying Viterra. The other ABCD companies are Archer Daniels Midland,

News, Other

Much to consider after merger rejection

Seeds Canada is likely but the seed growers’ association won’t be joining

By Allan Dawson September 10, 2020

Canada’s seed sector has some contemplating and healing to do in the wake of seed grower association members rejecting a merger with four other seed groups, which would have formed a new, single entity called Seeds Canada. Since the other four voted strongly to merge, it’s expected Seeds Canada will go ahead, but without the

“When you get a vote like we got, then you get a clear message from your membership that’s not what they want to do.” – Jonathan Nyborg.

News, Other

Seeds Canada likely despite CSGA rejection

Seed growers’ association finds some silver linings

By Allan Dawson September 10, 2020

Seeds Canada will likely be formed by the four seed organizations whose members voted strongly in favour of merging, said Ellen Sparry, president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA). “We want to ensure the momentum keeps going,” Sparry, who is president of C & M Seeds in Palmerston, Ont., said in an interview Sept.

News, Other

Manitoba seed growers weigh in on failed merger

The Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association says it is disappointed with vote results

By Allan Dawson September 10, 2020

The Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association (MSGA), which endorsed the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) merger with four other seed groups to form Seeds Canada, is disappointed CSGA members voted it down. But the MSGA said it is pleased many of its members took time to study the issue and vote. “Our take-home message to our

News

Seed sector merger will affect grain farmers

Seed growers have differing views on a plan to create Seeds Canada

By Allan Dawson August 17, 2020

Most Manitoba farmers, unless they are seed growers, haven’t heard of Seeds Canada. Its pending creation will either help or hurt seed producers and grain farmers depending on who you talk to. Seeds Canada is a proposed new seed industry organization that will be formed if two-thirds of members of five separate organizations — the

The Canadian International Grains Institute was created in 1972 to provide market development and technical support for Canadian wheat and other field crops.

Cereals, News, Other

What will become of Cigi?

Merger talks between Cigi, created 45 years ago to promote Canadian grain exports, and Cereals Canada could come to a head this month 

By Allan Dawson June 13, 2019

Cigi’s future could soon be clearer. For more than a year, the Canadian International Grains Institute, created in 1972 to provide market development and technical support for Canadian wheat and other field crops, and Cereals Canada, which represents the country’s cereals sector, have been considering merging. Cigi could decide on that during its annual meeting

Daily Network News

Canadian agriculture’s asks from the 2025 federal budget

China rapeseed meal futures see largest one-day gain in almost three months after Xi–Carney talks

U.S. livestock: Cattle slip back, hogs gain

Tag Archives mergers

Editorial: Grain business consolidation and concentration

Producers called to speak on Bunge-Viterra merger

Comment: Lack of competition makes for sick market

Comment: Agribusiness competition and the danger of the middle road

Comment: Bunge-Viterra merger has drastic implications for Canadian farmers

Much to consider after merger rejection

Seeds Canada likely despite CSGA rejection

Manitoba seed growers weigh in on failed merger

Seed sector merger will affect grain farmers

What will become of Cigi?

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