Syngenta’s Interaction Centre at Stein, Switzerland. (Syngenta.com)

Syngenta owner ChemChina to merge ag assets with Sinochem’s

Zurich | Reuters — ChemChina and Sinochem are consolidating their agricultural assets into a new holding company to be called Syngenta Group, ChemChina unit Syngenta said on Sunday. Chen Lichtenstein, current CEO of Shenzhen-listed crop protection company Adama, which will also be incorporated into the new group, will be nominated chief financial officer of the […] Read more

Cigi staff evaluate wheat flour for use in oriental noodles. (Cigi photo)

Cigi, Cereals Canada agree to pursue amalgamation

The boards of the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) and Cereals Canada have agreed to pursue amalgamation by March 31, 2020. That’s if a proposal, yet to be developed, is approved by the two bodies’ member organizations, leaders Dean Dias and Cam Dahl, said Friday in separate interviews. “During the past week, both boards have […] Read more

Louis Dreyfus’ oilseed processing plant at Yorkton, Sask. (LDC.com)

Grain trade regional tie-ups seen more likely over mega-deals

Paris | Reuters — The agricultural trading industry can expect more consolidation at a regional level in an effort to improve margins, but big deals between global merchants are becoming more difficult, Louis Dreyfus’ CEO said. Merchants have been grappling with lower profits from sourcing and shipping commodities such as grain and oilseeds, prompting cutbacks […] Read more

Nutrien’s potash facility at Lanigan, Sask. (Nutrien.com)

Nutrien merger’s effects ongoing a year later

CNS Canada — After clearing their regulatory hurdles, Canada’s Agrium and PotashCorp merged at the start of 2018 to become the world’s largest fertilizer company, Nutrien. The partner companies had made various promises at the time and many in Western Canada were cautious, hoping for the best but not fully knowing what to expect. A […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

With deal to close this week, Bayer to retire Monsanto name

Frankfurt | Reuters — Germany’s Bayer will wrap up the US$63 billion takeover of Monsanto on Thursday and also retire the U.S. seed and chemical firm’s 117-year-old name. The German drugmaker had received all required approvals from regulatory authorities, it said in a statement on Monday. “Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no […] Read more


(Staff photo)

Nutrien sees demand growth cooling, margins shrinking

Reuters — Nutrien, the Canadian fertilizer and farm supply dealer created from the merger of Agrium and PotashCorp this year, said it expected demand growth for potash in China and India to cool down in 2018. Nutrien, the world’s biggest fertilizer company by capacity, also said higher input costs would shrink nitrogen and phosphate margins. […] Read more

(ADM photo by Dave Bedard, Bunge photo via Bunge)

ADM in talks to buy Bunge as early as this week

Reuters — Top U.S. grains merchant Archer Daniels Midland could reach an agreement to buy smaller rival Bunge as early as this week, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The potential deal comes as large grain traders that make money by buying, selling, storing and shipping commodity crops have struggled […] Read more

(Staff photo)

PotashCorp, Agrium get last blessing for Jan. 1 wedding

Two major Canadian players in the global fertilizer industry now have what they say is the final blessing they need to close their merger deal Jan. 1, on two already-met conditions. Saskatoon-based Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan and Calgary-based Agrium Inc. announced Wednesday they’ve received clearance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to close their […] Read more


A Ben + Florentine restaurant in Ange-Gardien, Que. The breakfast-focused chain, now part of Imvescor, opened its 50th restaurant in November. (BenEtFlorentine.com)

Canadian fast-food, dining firms plan merger

A restaurant firm with well known brands in Eastern Canada’s casual dining market is set to merge into a neighbouring firm behind the franchises populating many of Canada’s mall food courts. Montreal-based MTY Food Group announced Tuesday it has a cash-and-stock agreement in place to pick up all outstanding common shares of another Montreal firm, […] Read more

Agrium sells U.S. plants to ease Potash Corp merger concerns

Agrium sells U.S. plants to ease Potash Corp merger concerns

Winnipeg | Reuters – Canadian fertilizer producer and farm supplier Agrium Inc said on Tuesday it will sell its Idaho phosphate production facility for $100 million to fertilizer company Itafos, to address concerns of U.S. regulators about its merger with Potash Corp of Saskatchewan. Separately, Agrium will sell its North Bend, Ohio, nitric acid plant […] Read more