Protests Against Monsanto in 400 Cities

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are bad for people, the environment, and water supplies, at least. This is according to the protestors involved in the “March Against Monsanto.” Their protests cover 421 cities, 48 countries, and six continents, by the organization’s own reckoning. Monsanto (NYSE: MON) is the target because it is the world’s largest producers of GMO based products. Monsanto and its supporters argue that its products are critical to feed great numbers of people who cannot use normal seeds or normal methods to keep weeds away from crops, which might be right. The “March Against Monsanto” protestors don’t care much about weeds, and maybe they should not, based on evidence that GMOs create massive harm to people. For the time being protests have focused on one of Monsanto’s products — Roundup, which kills weeds.

In an announcement about protests “March Against Monsanto” leaders said:

Spanning 6 continents, 48 countries, and 421 cities, March Against Monsanto 2015 has generated mass awareness and interest as world regulatory organizations openly declare Monsanto’s glyphosate-containing Roundup herbicide to be a serious threat to health. The leading authority on human wellness protocols, The World Health Organization, has already determined Monsanto’s Roundup to be a ‘probable carcinogen’ within the food supply.

The announcements have led to initiatives like The Women’s and Children’s Bill of Rights to Ban Glyphosate, which would protect highly susceptible groups from toxic glyphosate exposure if signed into law in October. Glyphosate has been detected in groundwater supplies as well as 60-100% of rainwater collection samples in various parts of the world, inciting concerns of mass pollution on a global scale.

Monsanto has the financial means to defend itself and promote the value of its products, In it most recently reported quarter, the company reported $5.2 billion in revenue and net income of $1.4 billion. Recently, Monsanto made a case against protestors and their protests. In its 2014 Sustainability Report, management made the case that:

Since announcing its first sustainability commitment framework in 2008, the company has advanced its three sustainability principles: (1) improving the lives of farmers, workers and communities, (2) producing enough food to make a balanced meal accessible to all, and (3) conserving Earth’s resources and preserving the natural environment.

Also:

The Monsanto 2014 Sustainability Report was prepared in accordance with the Core option of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 voluntary Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, while incorporating many aspects of the Comprehensive option. The company built on its past materiality assessment to refresh and review the sustainability issues and topics that have the most impact on the success of its business and that are important to external stakeholders, which informed the 2014 report content.

“Stakeholders” are almost certainly shareholders. Its stock is up 136% over the last five years, much better than the S&P 500. So far, the protests have not has much effect, at least as measured by Wall St.

Either the “March Against Monsanto” case is right, or Monsanto’s 2014 Sustainability Report is. The company’s point of view is winning the battle so far.

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