In a decisive ruling, a U.S. judge has thrown out a high-profile lawsuit accusing Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta, and other industry heavyweights of colluding to inflate the prices of seeds and crop protection chemicals. The case, brought by farmers alleging that these giants conspired to undermine electronic platforms for agricultural inputs, has been dismissed by Judge Sarah Pitlyk in St. Louis.
Judge Pitlyk determined that the plaintiffs fell short of proving that the companies violated antitrust laws. She criticized their claims as too vague and lacking in substantive evidence to counter the defendants’ assertions that their practices were legitimate and independent.
The lawsuit, which began in 2021, alleged that the defendants pressured wholesalers and retailers to shun new e-commerce platforms that could have enhanced price transparency for vital agricultural products like fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. The companies denied any wrongdoing, arguing that their resistance to these platforms was aligned with their individual business interests and not part of a coordinated conspiracy.
Following the ruling, Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta, and BASF expressed their satisfaction, maintaining that the crop input market remains competitive and fair.
