Citation:
Clapp, Jennifer . 2025. “Big Ag’s Deep Roots: An Historical Look At Corporate Concentration In The Agricultural Inputs Sector”. Antitrust Chronicle 2(July): 1-8.
Abstract:
The dominance of just a handful of top firms in the agricultural inputs sector
has a long history that precedes the recent blockbuster mergers in the sector by
well over a century. This article traces the longstanding pattern of concentration
across the farm machinery, fertilizer, seeds and pesticides industries with a
focus on two key periods in which consolidation was rampant: 1) the late 19th
and early 20th centuries; and 2) the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The
analysis shows that both of these earlier periods of consolidation, similar to the
current era, were encouraged by a complex mix of market, technology, and policy
factors, which resulted in widespread concern about the consequences. This
long view shows that concentration in the agricultural inputs sector, its broad
drivers, and public concern about it, are persistent patterns that emerge from
specific dynamics in these industries. These findings suggest an ongoing need
for robust antitrust regulation and enforcement in this sector.
has a long history that precedes the recent blockbuster mergers in the sector by
well over a century. This article traces the longstanding pattern of concentration
across the farm machinery, fertilizer, seeds and pesticides industries with a
focus on two key periods in which consolidation was rampant: 1) the late 19th
and early 20th centuries; and 2) the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The
analysis shows that both of these earlier periods of consolidation, similar to the
current era, were encouraged by a complex mix of market, technology, and policy
factors, which resulted in widespread concern about the consequences. This
long view shows that concentration in the agricultural inputs sector, its broad
drivers, and public concern about it, are persistent patterns that emerge from
specific dynamics in these industries. These findings suggest an ongoing need
for robust antitrust regulation and enforcement in this sector.
