Dow
AgroSciences is selling some of its herbicide business to Gowan Company, a
private company based in Ireland.
The deal
comes a month after Dow said it was reviewing all options for its farm
chemicals and seeds unit, which has reported falling sales for nearly a year.
The
companies did not disclose terms of the deal. It is expected to close by the
end of the year, they said.
Dinitroanilines,
or DNA herbicides, have been a part of weed management programs for more than
50 years, according to Dow.
Dow will
"invest in innovative and differentiated products,” said Ramiro De La
Cruz, vice president of crop protection for Dow AgroSciences.
Juli
Jessen, chief executive officer for the Gowan Group, said "we are grateful
for the opportunity to defend and evolve the DNAs for niches that have long
been our sweet spot, such as vegetables and turf."
The business press in the United States is commenting that Dow's move is part of a broader re-assessment of investments in seeds and pesticides by all of the giant companies involved.
So much for their commitment to agriculture, farmers and society. Their commitment is really only to profits.
And that's why it's important that society maintain a vibrant research organization seeking improved varieties and crop protection measures.
Too bad the federal government has cutting and slashing the Research Branch of the federal agriculture department for the last 40 years.
Also, a darn shame that much of the research that remains is "collaborative" efforts with companies.
