Bayer AG is aggressively lobbying state lawmakers to pass legislation that could protect the company from ongoing lawsuits tied to Roundup, the herbicide at the center of thousands of legal claims. Since acquiring Monsanto, Bayer has faced mounting legal challenges over allegations that glyphosate, Roundup’s primary ingredient, is linked to cancer.
Missouri has become a major front in Bayer’s legal fight, with an estimated 25,000 lawsuits currently pending in Cole County. Documents from one of those cases revealed that the company has been funding advocacy groups that push for laws favorable to its interests. The Modern Ag Alliance, a group tied to Bayer, has spent more than $100,000 on a radio ad campaign promoting the safety of glyphosate.
A bill introduced by state Rep. Dane Diehl (R) would establish that the EPA-approved label on Roundup is enough to meet Missouri’s legal requirements. If enacted, the law would likely halt most of the lawsuits currently facing Bayer in the state. The measure has already passed the Missouri House but is now meeting resistance in the State Senate, where opponents argue it amounts to corporate favoritism.
State Rep. Mazzie Christensen (R) has been vocal in her opposition, likening the proposal to the federal PREP Act, which granted vaccine manufacturers legal immunity. She also pointed out that other countries are restricting glyphosate while Missouri lawmakers are moving to shield Bayer from legal accountability.
Bayer’s legal and political battles extend beyond Missouri. Federal filings show that PACs tied to pesticide manufacturers have significantly increased their contributions to state lawmakers in agricultural and environmental committees.
With billions already paid in settlements and additional lawsuits looming, Bayer has been seeking legislative changes that could ease the financial strain caused by Roundup-related litigation.
