Biden Steps Up Scrutiny of US Seed Industry Competition (1)

Seed companies, which farmers complain use their market power to keep prices high, have been put on notice by the White House.

The Biden administration on Monday stepped up scrutiny of competition in the seed industry, announcing plans to form a working group including the Justice Department to improve market fairness.

President Joe Biden identified consolidation in the sector as a concern in his 2021 executive order on fair markets. Farmers have complained about how the key agricultural inputs are priced following a dramatic shift toward consolidation in ownership of patent-protected seeds.

The four largest companies now control 95% of ...