Big Agribiz Co-Opts Organic Principles to Promote Its “Biologicals”

In a classic example of how shamelessly Big Agribiz pivots its marketing, the current US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who was part of the legal team that scored the first major court victory against Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller, is being used as an unwitting front man for “biologicals”. These are substances derived from living organisms that agribusiness companies are increasingly promoting to farmers with claims of improving soil or crop health or controlling pests and diseases – all supposedly with the added benefit of reducing use of the chemical pesticides that still provide the largest chunk of the companies’ profits.

“Biologicals” can be genuinely natural. For example, the biocontrols used in organic farming include ladybirds employed to combat aphids and nematodes used against slugs and snails. But they can also be genetically engineered organisms, such as GM microbes – which can pose serious risks to human and animal health and the environment. The motivation for Big Agribiz to market GMO “biologicals” is strong, given the ease with which GM products can be patented and a receptive market of farmers weary of chemical dependency and the consequent depleted soils.