Bayer
Bayer is a German life-sciences company founded in 1863 that develops medicines, crop protection products, and seeds.
Friedrich Bayer: Friedrich Bayer was a German entrepreneur who co-founded the chemical company that became Bayer. He co-founded the company in 1863 with Johann Friedrich Weskott.
Pharmaceutical industry: The pharmaceutical industry discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells medicines. Bayer’s prescription and consumer medicines belong to this global sector.
Monsanto acquisition: The Monsanto acquisition was Bayer’s 2018 purchase of the American agricultural company for about $63 billion. It transformed Bayer’s agricultural portfolio and brought major litigation liabilities.
BASF: BASF is a German chemical company with businesses in materials, industrial chemicals, and agricultural solutions. It competes with Bayer in parts of the crop protection and seed markets.
Johann Friedrich Weskott: Johann Friedrich Weskott was a German dyer and chemical entrepreneur who co-founded Bayer. His dye-making partnership with Friedrich Bayer established the firm’s first business.
Crop protection: Crop protection uses chemical, biological, and agronomic methods to limit damage from pests, weeds, and diseases. Bayer’s agricultural business sells products intended to protect crops from these threats.
Roundup litigation: Roundup litigation consists of lawsuits alleging that glyphosate-based herbicides caused cancer and that risks were inadequately warned about. Bayer inherited thousands of US claims after acquiring Monsanto and its Roundup business.
Syngenta: Syngenta is a global agricultural technology company that develops crop protection products and seeds. It is a direct rival to Bayer in major agricultural input markets.
Bayer Cross: The Bayer Cross is the company’s circular logo, with the name BAYER arranged horizontally and vertically. The logo became a durable symbol of the company’s identity and products.
Glyphosate: Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that inhibits an enzyme required for plant growth. Bayer acquired glyphosate-based products through its purchase of Monsanto.