JRE 1722 · June 27, 2024

Bartow Elmore

environmenthistorybusinessscience

Who is Bartow Elmore?

Bart Elmore is the associate professor of environmental history and core faculty member of the Sustainability Institute at the Ohio State University. He's the author of "Seed Money: Monsanto's Past and Our Food Future." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Topics and Timestamps

01Bartow Elmore discusses Monsanto's history and its evolution from a chemical company to an agricultural biotech giant
02The conversation covers how Monsanto developed herbicides and genetically modified seeds that became dominant in global agriculture
03Elmore explains the environmental and health controversies surrounding Monsanto's products, particularly glyphosate and Agent Orange
04Discussion of how seed patents and corporate consolidation changed farming practices and farmer independence
05Examination of regulatory capture and how Monsanto influenced government agencies and scientific institutions
06Analysis of the future of food production, sustainability, and whether alternatives to chemical agriculture are viable
▶Introduction to Monsanto's origins as a chemical company0:00:00
▶Explanation of how Monsanto created herbicide-resistant seeds0:15:00
▶Discussion of Monsanto's role in Agent Orange production0:35:00
▶How seed patents ended farmer independence1:05:00
▶Regulatory capture and corporate influence on government agencies1:30:00

The Show

Joe brings on environmental historian Bartow Elmore to dive deep into Monsanto's complicated legacy and what it means for the future of food. Elmore is an associate professor at Ohio State and wrote 'Seed Money: Monsanto's Past and Our Food Future,' a comprehensive look at how one company shaped modern agriculture.

The conversation starts with Monsanto's origins as a chemical company and traces how they pivoted into seeds and genetic modification. Elmore breaks down how the company developed herbicides like glyphosate and engineered seeds resistant to these chemicals, creating a closed loop where farmers had to buy both the seeds and the chemicals. This wasn't just good business, it was a complete restructuring of how agriculture worked globally.

Joe and Bartow dig into the darker side of Monsanto's history, including Agent Orange, the defoliant used in Vietnam that had devastating health consequences. They discuss how the company handled liability, pushed products through regulatory agencies, and influenced the scientific consensus around their chemicals. The conversation gets into how seed patents essentially ended farmer independence, making it impossible for farmers to save and replant seeds the way they had for thousands of years.

A major theme is regulatory capture and how corporations work with government agencies. Elmore explains how Monsanto built relationships with the USDA and EPA, often placing former executives in regulatory positions. This isn't just conspiracy talk, it's documented corporate strategy. The guy literally wrote the book on this.

They also explore whether we can actually feed the world without these chemical inputs and genetic modifications. Elmore doesn't give easy answers, but he makes clear that the narrative of 'chemicals and GMOs are the only way to feed humanity' is more marketing than reality. There are alternatives, they're just not as profitable for multinational corporations.

The episode wraps up discussing what comes next for food production and whether companies like Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) will continue dominating agriculture or if there's space for more sustainable, localized approaches. It's heavy stuff that should make you think about where your food actually comes from.