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Food Fight 

VIKKI KRATZ / Capital Eye 9jul03

[See tables below]

Major food companies have worked side by side with biotech to promote genetically modified foods. How long will the alliance last?

July 09, 2003—Last fall, an Oregon housewife spearheaded a ballot initiative that would have forced the nation's food companies to label products sold in the state that were made with genetically modified ingredients. She was concerned about the safety of crops that had been engineered to produce their own pesticides. Oregon's Measure 27 would have been the first law of its kind in the country. But a $5 million campaign, financed by an alliance of biotech and food companies, easily defeated the measure—and demonstrated the power of the industries' partnership.

The flood of out-of-state money into Oregon's ballot battle came from the agriculture industry's top biotech companies: BASF, Bayer, Dow Chemical's Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta. [See spending of each below] These six companies have spent big bucks in the past to defeat similar laws and to influence the regulations governing their industry. From 1998-2002, the companies spent more than $53 million to lobby the federal government. Since 1989, the companies have contributed more than $12 million in individual, PAC and soft money donations, 77 percent to Republicans. Dow Chemical is the industry's top contributor, donating more than $4.5 million in individual, PAC and soft money donations since 1989, 80 percent to Republicans.

But while agriculture's biotech companies have plenty of clout in their own right, they have never had to act alone. Major food companies including General Mills, Nestle and PepsiCo contributed to the $5 million campaign to defeat Oregon's Measure 27. The food companies oppose labeling genetically modified (GM) foods, citing the impracticality and expense of labeling GM ingredients that appear in 70 percent of the country's processed food. The industry was also worried that passage of Oregon's law would set off a chain reaction of similar laws in other states.

It wasn't the first time that the food industry had teamed up with biotech companies. Back in 1999, when the Food and Drug Administration first began to pay serious attention to the issue, more than three dozen food and agriculture trade associations formed the Alliance for Better Foods to promote biotech crops to Congress and the American public. They were trying to counteract a campaign by consumer groups and environmentalists questioning the safety of the foods. The anti-biotech campaign had worked so successfully abroad that the European Union had banned GM foods, while Japan and Australia required them to be labeled.

At the time, the food and biotech industries spoke confidently about their partnership. A spokesman for the Grocery Manufacturers of America told a Senate panel, "Major food and beverage companies—who are strongly supportive of food biotechnology and the farmers who utilize it—are part of this coalition dedicated to educating the public about its benefits. … Acting together, food companies, lawmakers, scientists, farmers and regulators must work to ensure that activists with a political agenda do not kill the promise of biotech foods."

But now the once strong alliance between the biotech and food industries has begun to show some cracks.

Although the food companies still support genetically modified crops, the latest advance in food biotechnology has them suddenly wary. Biotech companies are now altering plants to produce medicines, a practice called "biopharming." The crops can make the proteins and other substances needed for medicines at a lower cost than pharmaceutical factories can. But food companies worry that crops containing vaccines, hormones and antibodies could mix with food crops, with disastrous results.

A newly created medicinal plant almost got into the food supply last year. A small biotech company called ProdiGene was attempting to genetically modify corn to produce a diarrhea drug. When the company completed its research trials, a farmer re-planted the test fields with soybeans. Some of the modified corn, however, was still present in the field and mixed with the soybeans during harvesting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered ProdiGene to pay a $250,000 fine and spend another $3 million to buy the contaminated soybeans, which were destroyed.

The scare convinced Kraft CEO Betsy Holden of the need for increased government oversight of biotechnology. "Right now, public acceptance of biotechnology in America is relatively high," she told an agricultural forum in April. "But how many more times can we test the public's trust before we begin to lose it?" Kraft has been burned before. In 2000, Aventis' Starlink corn, which had not been approved for human consumption, somehow ended up in Kraft taco shells and the company was forced to recall them. Now, food companies worry that they could be held liable if biopharm crops were to contaminate the food supply.

But getting stricter regulations may be an uphill battle, especially considering biotech's growing power in Washington.

"They worship biotechnology in the Bush administration," said Bill Freese of Friends of the Earth, an environmental group. "A company like ProdiGene doesn't have to lobby because it's considered the golden boy of a cutting-edge industry."

Indeed, biotech's cachet may work against the food companies, which for years had a stake in making sure the government maintained a laissez-faire attitude toward the industry.

At first, the biotech industry appeared to be responsive to the food companies' concerns. After the ProdiGene incident last fall, the industry's trade association, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, imposed a temporary ban on planting biopharm crops in the Midwest. But BIO soon retracted the ban, reportedly under pressure from Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). Grassley supports biopharming as another way to help boost his state's agriculture economy. A top recipient of money from the biotech industry, Grassley has received more than $100,000 in individual and PAC donations from biotech companies since 1989.

Not being able to count on BIO's support—or Grassley's—the food companies have struck out on their own. Earlier this year, the Grocery Manufacturers of America, along with nine other food and restaurant trade groups, asked the FDA for greater oversight of pharma crops. If the FDA doesn't respond with new guidelines, the food companies may take their problem to Congress. If they do, they'll be well prepared. During the 2002 election cycle, food processing companies gave $11.5 million in individual, PAC and soft money donations. That's three times the $3.4 million the biotech companies gave during the same period.

source: http://www.capitaleye.org/inside.asp?ID=92 22jul03


Biotech Industry Campaign Contributions, 1989-2003*
(includes pharmaceutical and agriculture biotech companies)

                                                                                                                           % to     % to
      Company      1990 cycle 1992 cycle 1994 cycle 1996 cycle 1998 cycle 2000 cycle 2002 cycle 2004 cycle       Total	    Dems     Reps
 Dow Chemical        $583,649   $722,530   $702,900   $615,003   $531,550   $679,780   $680,739     $8,605   $4,524,756     20.1%    79.8%
 Aventis             $209,100   $288,400   $335,300   $669,250   $734,061   $996,790 $1,102,549       $750   $4,336,200     26.5%    73.4%
 Monsanto‡           $124,530   $201,450   $268,732   $335,507   $198,955 $1,176,970 $1,533,936    $21,750   $3,861,830     25.1%    74.8%
 Johnson & Johnson   $109,075   $188,500   $208,650   $245,240   $253,250   $505,650 $1,078,771   $121,120   $2,710,256     34.9%    65.1%
 Amgen                $20,800    $17,050   $107,670   $251,547   $260,150   $668,333 $1,021,692     $1,300   $2,348,542     20.2%    79.6%
 Genentech (Roche)†  $105,650   $193,000   $270,629   $412,597   $322,143   $498,749   $500,740    $23,470   $2,326,978     46.8%    53.1%
 Pioneer Hi-Bred
 (DuPont)†            $29,635   $124,561   $153,489   $303,869   $393,671   $394,431   $279,532     $6,850   $1,686,038     30.5%    69.4%
 Bayer                 $3,500     $2,750     $1,000   $139,604   $256,847   $362,459   $324,771     $2,000   $1,092,931     20.5%    79.2%
 BASF                  $4,125    $12,270    $23,900    $40,650    $61,450   $272,090   $283,387     $9,450     $707,322     15.4%    84.3%
 Syngenta                  $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0   $299,918         $0     $299,918     37.3%    62.7%
 Biogen                    $0     $6,000    $17,695    $11,200     $6,700    $72,650   $182,400         $0     $296,645     40.5%    59.5%
 Andrx                     $0         $0     $5,000     $2,250     $8,700   $178,067    $27,900         $0     $221,917     37.1%    62.9%
 Biotechnology Industry
 Organization              $0         $0     $2,300     $2,750     $4,450    $30,200   $166,443     $5,200     $211,343     30.6%    69.4%
 Serono                $8,100     $9,050     $7,450    $15,600    $48,157    $44,850    $41,175       $500     $174,882     37.8%    62.5%
 Quest Diagnostics         $0         $0         $0         $0    $24,750    $69,451    $58,200     $1,300     $153,701     32.1%    66.0%
 ImClone Systems       $3,500     $2,000     $1,000    $22,800    $20,000    $90,000    $13,000         $0     $152,300    100.0%     0.0%
 Sepracor                  $0         $0         $0     $2,500    $31,750    $71,000    $38,415         $0     $143,665     38.5%    61.5%
 Genzyme                 $250         $0     $1,450    $24,478    $20,255    $88,800         $0         $0     $135,233     45.8%    54.2%
 Human Genome
 Sciences                  $0         $0    $27,000    $18,750    $15,000    $11,000     $6,800     $1,000      $79,550     92.1%     7.9%
 Cephalon                  $0         $0         $0         $0     $3,300     $7,101    $21,500         $0      $31,901      0.6%    99.4%
 Applera §               $200     $1,665       $700     $2,600     $2,100    $12,051    $11,850       $300      $31,466     44.5%    53.9%
 Diagnostic Products   $4,350     $8,200     $4,062     $7,550       $500         $0     $3,000     $1,000      $28,662     95.6%     4.4%
 Chiron                    $0       $450     $2,500     $7,900     $5,000    $10,201         $0         $0      $26,051     37.2%    62.8%
 Elan                      $0         $0         $0     $1,200     $1,250    $15,750     $7,300         $0      $25,500     24.5%    75.5%
 Affymetrix                $0         $0         $0     $1,500     $5,000    $16,250     $2,300         $0      $25,050     86.8%    13.2%
 Invitrogen                $0         $0         $0         $0         $0    $25,000         $0         $0      $25,000    100.0%     0.0%
 Millennium
 Pharmaceuticals           $0         $0         $0         $0     $2,000     $3,700     $7,000     $2,500      $15,200    100.0%     0.0%
 Idexx Laboratories        $0         $0       $850     $3,200       $500     $5,700     $1,500         $0      $11,750     18.3%    81.7%
 Quintiles
 Transnational             $0         $0         $0     $5,750     $4,000         $0         $0     $1,000      $10,750     20.9%    79.1%
 IDEC
 Pharmaceuticals           $0         $0     $1,500       $250     $1,000     $2,250     $5,250         $0      $10,250     68.3%    31.7%
 Gilead Sciences         $900     $3,250         $0     $3,000         $0     $1,900         $0         $0       $9,050     26.5%    73.5%
 Charles River
 Laboratories          $1,500         $0         $0     $1,800       $900         $0     $3,500         $0       $7,700     74.0%    26.0%
 Medimmune                 $0         $0         $0         $0       $500     $5,000     $2,000         $0       $7,500     16.7%    83.3%
 Covance                   $0         $0         $0         $0       $500     $3,450     $1,250         $0       $5,200     76.0%    24.0%
 Amylin
 Pharmaceuticals           $0         $0         $0       $950         $0     $1,500     $2,001         $0       $4,451      0.0%   100.0%
 Vertex
 Pharmaceuticals           $0         $0         $0       $400         $0     $2,450     $1,000         $0       $3,850    100.0%     0.0%
 Neurocrine
 Biosciences               $0         $0         $0     $1,000         $0         $0     $2,750         $0       $3,750      0.0%   100.0%
 Enzon
 Pharmaceuticals           $0         $0         $0       $250       $500     $2,000       $500         $0       $3,250      0.0%   100.0%
 Igenex                    $0         $0         $0         $0         $0       $700     $2,450         $0       $3,150      0.0%   100.0%
 Large Scale Biology       $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0     $3,000         $0       $3,000      0.0%   100.0%
 Trimeris                  $0         $0         $0     $2,000       $250       $300       $300         $0       $2,850     78.9%    21.1%
 Eden Bioscience           $0         $0         $0         $0         $0     $2,000       $500         $0       $2,500    100.0%     0.0%
 Sicor                     $0         $0         $0         $0       $500         $0     $2,000         $0       $2,500     80.0%    20.0%
 Envirogen                 $0         $0       $250     $1,000         $0       $750       $250         $0       $2,250     31.1%    68.9%
 Medicines Co.             $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0     $2,250         $0       $2,250      0.0%   100.0%
 Bio-Nova                  $0         $0         $0         $0         $0     $1,250       $250         $0       $1,500     83.3%    16.7%
 Techne                    $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0     $1,450         $0       $1,450    100.0%     0.0%
 Celgene                   $0         $0         $0         $0         $0     $1,150         $0         $0       $1,150     56.5%    43.5%
 NPS Pharmaceuticals       $0         $0         $0         $0         $0     $1,000         $0         $0       $1,000    100.0%     0.0%
 Celltech Group            $0         $0         $0       $300         $0         $0       $250         $0         $550     45.5%    54.5%
 Biovail
 Pharmaceuticals           $0         $0         $0                    $0         $0         $0       $250         $250    100.0%     0.0%
 Intermune
 Pharmaceuticals           $0         $0         $0         $0         $0       $250         $0         $0         $250    100.0%     0.0%
 Protein Design Labs       $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0       $250         $250    100.0%     0.0%
 Ribapharm                 $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0       $250         $0         $250    100.0%     0.0%
 TOTAL             $1,208,864 $1,781,126 $2,144,027 $3,154,245 $3,219,639 $6,332,973 $7,726,019   $208,595  $25,775,488     28.6%    71.3%

   * Based on data released by the Federal Election Commission on May27, 2003. Totals include PAC, soft money and 
     individual contributions to federal candidates, party committees and leadership PACs, 1989-2003.
   ¶ So far.
   ‡ Includes Pharmacia contributions for the 2000, 2002 and 2004 election cycles. Pharmacia acquired Monsanto in 2000. 
   † Parent companies appear in the parentheses Parent company campaign contributions are included in the totals
   § Includes campaign contributions from Applera subsidiaries Celera Genomics and Applied Biosystems.

source: http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-contributions.asp 22jul03


Biotech Industry Lobbying Expenditures, 1998-2002*
(includes pharmaceutical and agriculture biotech companies)

       Company             1998         1999         2000         2001         2002         TOTAL
Monsanto‡                  $4,000,000   $4,000,000   $7,782,960   $2,539,840   $3,548,580   $21,871,380
Genentech (Roche)¶         $2,738,000   $2,951,620   $3,662,095   $4,257,938   $3,929,810   $17,539,463
Amgen                      $2,360,000   $3,440,600   $2,680,000   $3,080,000   $2,940,000   $14,500,600
BIO §			   $1,704,000   $2,559,000   $2,857,000   $3,506,000   $3,540,000   $14,166,000
Aventis                    $3,155,220   $1,710,000   $2,190,000   $3,540,000   $3,570,000   $14,165,220
Johnson & Johnson          $1,580,000   $1,560,000   $2,780,000   $3,240,000   $3,760,000   $12,920,000
Dow Chemical               $2,440,000   $2,120,000   $2,130,000   $2,800,000   $2,720,000   $12,210,000
Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont)¶  $1,520,000   $1,620,000   $1,200,000   $1,320,000     $800,000    $6,460,000
Bayer                        $540,000   $1,109,918   $1,336,775   $1,418,125   $1,396,767    $5,801,585
Genzyme                      $589,000     $760,000   $1,000,000     $920,000   $1,120,000    $4,389,000
BASF                         $260,000   $1,120,000   $1,300,000     $520,000     $240,000    $3,440,000
Syngenta                           $0           $0     $360,000   $1,560,000   $1,420,000    $3,340,000
Millennium Pharmaceuticals         $0           $0           $0   $1,120,000   $1,120,000    $2,240,000
Serono                       $580,000     $280,000     $805,000     $230,000     $340,000    $2,235,000
Biogen                       $100,000     $166,000     $460,000     $595,000     $705,000    $2,026,000
Sepracor                           $0      $80,000     $520,000      $60,000     $220,000      $880,000
Cephalon                     $140,000     $100,000     $100,000     $180,000     $220,000      $740,000
Human Genome Sciences              $0           $0     $150,000     $240,000     $300,000      $690,000
Applera†                           $0           $0     $340,000     $160,000     $140,000      $660,000
Quest Diagnostics             $80,000      $80,000      $40,000     $110,000     $120,000      $430,000
Chiron                             $0           $0     $260,000     $138,000           $0      $398,000
Andrx                              $0      $40,000     $120,000     $120,000      $60,000      $340,000
Biovail                      $200,000      $50,000           $0      $40,000      $20,000      $310,000
Affymetrix                         $0           $0           $0           $0     $300,000      $300,000
Gilead Sciences                    $0           $0           $0      $60,000     $200,000      $260,000
Celgene                            $0           $0           $0      $80,000     $100,000      $180,000
Quintiles Transnational            $0      $50,000      $40,000      $40,000      $40,000      $170,000
Abgenix                            $0           $0           $0           $0     $120,000      $120,000
IDEC Pharmaceuticals               $0           $0           $0           $0      $80,000       $80,000
ImClone Systems                    $0           $0           $0      $40,000           $0       $40,000
TOTAL                     $21,986,220  $23,797,138  $32,113,830  $31,914,903  $33,070,157  $142,902,248

*  According to federal lobbying reports filed with Congress.
§  Biotechnology Industry Organization
¶  Parent companies appear in the parentheses Parent company lobbying expenditures are included in the total
‡  Includes 2000, 2001 and 2002 lobbying expenditures for Pharmacia Corp., which acquired Monsanto in 2000. 
†  Includes lobbying expenditures from Applera subsidiaries Celera Genomics and Applied Biosystems.

source: http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-lobbying.asp 22jul03


BASF 

Total Contributions:  	       $707,322 
Total Lobbying Expenditures: $3,440,000 

Chemical giant BASF is not your everyday biotech company. The company focuses mainly on using biotechnology to produce amino acids, vitamins and enzymes. Although BASF typically takes a back seat to other companies when it comes to lobbying, the company is a founding member of the Council for Biotechnology Information. The group, which was created three years ago with contributions from BASF and other biotech companies, runs television and print ads touting the benefits of biotech. BASF also contributed to the $5.2 million campaign to block Oregon’s proposed food labeling law in 2002.   —Kristin Gribben

Campaign Contributions, 1989-2003*

								       % to   % to 
Cycle       Total      Ind      PACs  Soft Money   To Dems   To Reps   Dems   Reps
1990       $4,125   $4,125  	  $0          $0    $2,900    $1,225   70.3%  29.7%  
1992      $12,270  $12,270  	  $0	      $0    $5,650    $6,620   46.0%  54.0%  
1994      $23,900  $13,900  	  $0     $10,000   $12,700   $11,200   53.1%  46.9% 
 1996     $40,650  $25,650  	  $0     $15,000    $1,500   $39,150    3.7%  96.3%  
1998      $61,450  $10,950        $0     $50,500    $4,750   $56,700    7.7%  92.3%  
2000     $272,090  $13,740  $219,250     $39,100   $35,300  $234,790   13.0%  86.3% 
 2002    $283,387  $10,240  $222,500     $50,647   $43,750  $239,637   15.4%  84.6%  
2004**     $9,450     $450    $9,000	      $0    $2,450    $7,000   25.9%  74.1%  
Total    $707,322  $91,325  $450,750    $165,247  $109,000  $596,322   15.4%  84.3% 
 
Ind  Individuals
*    Based on data released by the Federal Election Commission on May 27, 2003. 
     Totals include PAC, soft money and individual contributions to federal candidates, party 
     committees and leadership PACs, 1989-2003.
**   So far.

Lobbying Expenditures, 1998-2002°

Year       Amount  
1998     $260,000  
1999   $1,120,000  
2000   $1,300,000  
2001     $520,000  
2002     $240,000  
Total  $3,440,000 

°According to federal lobbying reports filed with Congress. 

source: http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-basf.asp 23jul03


BAYER 

Total Contributions: 	     $1,092,931 
Total Lobbying Expenditures: $5,801,585

Aspirin-maker Bayer has expanded into the world of biotechnology. Although the company sells a few biotech drugs, its main interest is in genetically modified crops. Bayer acquired its crop science division from Aventis, which sold it shortly after some of its genetically modified corn, not approved for human consumption, somehow got into the food supply. Bayer CropScience produces genetically modified corn and canola, and plans to have biotech rice on the market within the next few years. The company contributed to the campaign to block Oregon's proposed food labeling law in 2002 and has lobbied the Bush administration to pressure the European Union to accept biotech foods.  —Kristin Gribben 

Campaign Contributions, 1989-2003*

									  % to	   % to 
Cycle       Total       Ind      PACs  Soft Money   To Dems     To Reps	  Dems     Reps 
1990       $3,500    $3,500  	   $0 	       $0 	 $0 	 $3,500     0.0%  100.0%  
1992       $2,750    $2,750  	   $0	       $0  	 $0  	 $2,750     0.0%  100.0%  
1994       $1,000    $1,000  	   $0	       $0  	 $0  	 $1,000     0.0%  100.0%  
1996      $139,604   $4,204  $104,000     $31,400   $18,500    $120,400    13.3%   86.2%  
1998      $256,847   $5,197  $186,500     $65,150   $51,547    $205,300    20.1%   79.9%  
2000      $362,459  $23,729  $245,500     $93,230   $63,150    $297,109    17.4%   82.0% 
2002      $324,771  $26,376  $298,000        $395   $90,700    $234,071    27.9%   72.1%  
2004†       $2,000   $2,000  	   $0	       $0        $0	 $2,000     0.0%  100.0%  
Total   $1,092,931  $68,756  $834,000    $190,175  $223,897    $866,130    20.5%   79.2% 

Ind  Individuals
*    Based on data released by the Federal Election Commission on May 27, 2003. 
     Totals include PAC, soft money and individual contributions to federal candidates, 
     party committees and leadership PACs, 1989-2003.
†    So far. 

Lobbying Expenditures, 1998-2002°

Year       Amount  
1998     $540,000  
1999   $1,109,918  
2000   $1,336,775  
2001   $1,418,125  
2002   $1,396,767  
Total  $5,801,585 

°According to federal lobbying reports filed with Congress.

source: http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-bayer.asp 23jul03


DOW CHEMICAL

Total Contributions:  $4,524,756 
Total Lobbying Expenditures: $12,210,000

The biotech industry's No. 1 campaign contributor, Dow Chemical produces a medley of genetically modified foods. Through its subsidiaries Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds, the company sells modified corn, canola, soybeans—even sunflowers. Like most biotech companies, Dow is pushing for international acceptance of genetically-modified crops. The company is pressuring the Bush administration to sue the European Union and force it to overturn its ban on biotech crops. Dow also has joined with other biotech companies to create special coalitions and trade groups to persuade consumers abroad that biotech crops are safe. In 2002, Dow contributed to a $5.2 million campaign to block Oregon's proposed food labeling law.   —Kristin Gribben 

Campaign Contributions, 1989-2003

									   % to	  % to 
Cycle       Total       Ind        PACs  Soft Money   To Dems     To Reps   Dems   Reps 
1990  	 $583,649   $177,174   $406,475  	 $0   $85,050    $498,599  14.6%  85.4%  
1992     $722,530   $165,253   $451,100    $106,177  $161,031    $561,499  22.3%  77.7%  
1994     $702,900   $123,850   $348,800    $230,250  $144,950    $557,450  20.6%  79.3%  
1996     $615,003    $69,818   $231,700    $313,485  $126,100    $488,353  20.5%  79.4%  
1998     $531,550    $62,550   $211,500    $257,500  $124,200    $406,350  23.4%  76.4%  
2000     $679,780   $103,755   $218,825    $357,200  $136,195    $542,335  20.0%  79.8%  
2002     $680,739   $46,835    $242,250    $391,654  $127,360    $552,379  18.7%  81.1%  
2004**     $8,605    $1,605      $7,000  	 $0    $2,405      $5,700  27.9%  66.2%   
Total  $4,524,756  $750,840  $2,117,650  $1,656,266  $907,291  $3,612,665  20.1%  79.8%

Ind  Individuals
*    Based on data released by the Federal Election Commission on May 27, 2003. 
     Totals include PAC, soft money and individual contributions to federal candidates, 
     party committees and leadership PACs, 1989-2003.
**   So far. 

Lobbying Expenditures, 1998-2002°

Year        Amount 
1998    $2,440,000 
1999    $2,120,000 
2000    $2,130,000 
2001    $2,800,000 
2002    $2,720,000 
Total  $12,210,000 


°According to federal lobbying reports filed with Congress. 
 
source: http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-dow.asp 23jul03

MONSANTO 

Total Contributions:		$3,861,830 
Total Lobbying Expenditures:   $21,871,380

A pioneer in the biotech industry, Monsanto was one of the first companies to market genetically modified seeds. The company now dominates 70 percent of the global market for transgenic seeds. Monsanto's high-profile agricultural products—including crops that produce their own pesticide—have made the company the target of anti-biotech protests worldwide. Monsanto is also the subject of a Justice Department probe into allegations of price-fixing. But the company does have some friends in Washington. One of Monsanto's former lobbyists, Linda Fisher, is now the No. 2 official at the Environmental Protection Agency and a candidate to become the agency's new chief. Monsanto has also spent $21 million on lobbying since 1998, more than any other biotech company. Monsanto also plays politics at the state level. In 2002, the company contributed more than $1 million to a campaign to block Oregon's proposed food labeling law. —Kristin Gribben

Campaign Contributions, 1989-2003*

									   % to	  % to 
Cycle       Total       Ind      PACs  Soft Money   To Dems     To Reps	   Dems   Reps 
1990     $124,530    $8,920  $115,610          $0   $38,000     $86,530    30.5%  69.5% 
1992     $201,450   $36,495  $144,455     $20,500   $66,050    $135,400    32.8%  67.2%
1994     $268,732   $72,127  $133,705     $62,900  $135,152    $133,580    50.3%  49.7%
1996     $335,507   $88,382  $118,125    $129,000  $121,500    $214,007    36.2%  63.8%
1998     $198,955   $99,110   $74,845     $25,000   $62,620    $136,335    31.5%  68.5% 
2000   $1,176,970  $202,895   $89,400    $884,675  $221,060    $953,660    18.8%  81.0%
2002   $1,533,936  $163,136   $46,553  $1,324,247  $322,028  $1,211,908    21.0%  79.0%
2004**    $21,750    $4,750   $17,000          $0    $4,000     $17,750    18.4%  81.6% 
Total  $3,861,830  $675,815  $739,693  $2,446,322  $970,410  $2,889,170    25.1%  74.8%

Ind  Individuals
*    Based on data released by the Federal Election Commission on May 27, 2003. Totals include PAC, 
     soft money and individual contributions to federal candidates, party committees and leadership 
     PACs, 1989-2003. Includes Pharmacia contributions for the 2000, 2002 and 2004 election cycles. 
     Pharmacia acquired Monsanto in 2000. 
**   So far.

Lobbying Expenditures, 1998-2002

Year     Amount
1998    $4,000,000 
1999    $4,000,000
2000    $7,782,960
2001    $2,539,840
2002    $3,548,580
Total  $21,871,380

‡ According to federal lobbying reports filed with Congress. 
  Includes 2000, 2001 and 2002 lobbying expenditures for Pharmacia, which acquired Monsanto in 2000. 

source: http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-monsanto.asp 23jul03


SYNGENTA

Total Contributions: 
Total Lobbying Expenditures: 
 $299,918 
$3,340,000

Created by drug giants Novartis and AstraZeneca in 2000, Syngenta rapidly became as much of a household name in the biotech industry as Monsanto. The company produces genetically modified corn and cotton, and has been working on biotech rice. Last month, the U.S. Agency for International Development requested more money from Congress to help Syngenta develop insect-resistant potatoes to be planted in famine-plagued Africa. A true player in the biotech industry, last year Syngenta contributed to a $5.2 million campaign to defeat a proposition in Oregon—the first of its kind in the country—that would force food manufacturers to label genetically modified foods.  —Kristin Gribben

Campaign Contributions, 1989-2003*

								  % to	 % to 
Cycle     Total     Ind     PACs  Soft Money   To Dems   To Reps  Dems   Reps 
1990  	     $0      $0       $0  	  $0	    $0	      $0    0%     0%   
1992  	     $0      $0       $0  	  $0  	    $0        $0    0%     0%  
1994  	     $0      $0       $0  	  $0  	    $0        $0    0%     0%  
1996  	     $0      $0       $0  	  $0  	    $0        $0    0%     0%  
1998  	     $0      $0       $0  	  $0  	    $0        $0    0%     0%  
2000  	     $0      $0       $0  	  $0  	    $0        $0    0%     0%  
2002   $299,918  $3,100  $35,500    $261,318  $112,000  $187,918   37.3%  62.7%  
2004** 	     $0      $0       $0	  $0  	    $0        $0    0%     0%   
Total  $299,918  $3,100  $35,500    $261,318  $112,000  $187,918   37.3%  62.7%

*  Based on data released by the Federal Election Commission on May 27, 2003. 
   Totals include PAC, soft money and individual contributions to federal candidates, 
   party committees and leadership PACs, 1989-2003.
** So far.

Lobbying Expenditures, 1998-2002°

Year       Amount  
1998           $0  
1999           $0  
2000     $360,000  
2001   $1,560,000  
2002   $1,420,000  
Total  $3,340,000 

°According to federal lobbying reports filed with Congress. 

source: http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-syngenta.asp 23jul03

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