Facing billions in legal payouts over its controversial herbicide Roundup, Bayer AG has turned to state legislatures in an attempt to limit its liability. Since acquiring Monsanto in 2018, the company has been burdened with thousands of lawsuits alleging that glyphosate, Roundup’s main ingredient, causes cancer.
In Missouri, where more than 25,000 lawsuits are pending in Cole County alone, Bayer-backed groups have been funding political advocacy efforts to push for favorable legislation. One such group, the Modern Ag Alliance, has poured over $100,000 into a media campaign since November, defending glyphosate’s safety and promoting legislative changes.
A bill introduced by state Rep. Dane Diehl (R) would provide sweeping legal protection for Bayer by establishing that the EPA’s warning label on Roundup meets all Missouri legal requirements. The bill narrowly passed the Missouri House but is now facing bipartisan resistance in the State Senate. Opponents argue that the measure would effectively eliminate lawsuits against Bayer in the state, denying plaintiffs their right to seek damages.
Bayer’s legal troubles have already cost the company $10 billion in settlements, with another $6 billion set aside for ongoing litigation. In response, the company has increased its political contributions, mirroring a broader trend among pesticide manufacturers.
Federal records show that industry PACs have significantly boosted donations to state lawmakers, particularly in states where liability-limiting legislation is being debated.
Similar bills have surfaced in Iowa and Idaho, where pesticide industry lobbyists have campaigned for measures that would shield chemical companies from lawsuits. Opposition in those states has been fueled by concerns over corporate influence and the potential loss of legal recourse for affected individuals.
Bayer’s stock has dropped 37% in the last year, with executives blaming legal challenges for the company’s financial struggles.
