Bayer AG is spending heavily at the state level to push for legal protections as it faces thousands of lawsuits linked to Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer. Since acquiring Monsanto in 2018, the German-based company has been caught in a legal storm over allegations that glyphosate, the herbicide’s key ingredient, causes cancer.
Missouri has become a focal point in Bayer’s legal battle, with an estimated 25,000 lawsuits pending in Cole County alone. Court filings reveal that the company is backing advocacy groups that promote legislation to limit its legal exposure. One of these groups, Modern Ag Alliance, has spent over $100,000 on a radio ad campaign in Missouri, arguing that glyphosate is both safe and essential for farmers.
Legislation introduced by state Rep. Dane Diehl (R) would declare that the EPA-approved label on Roundup meets all Missouri legal requirements, potentially ending most lawsuits in the state. While the measure narrowly cleared the Missouri House, it faces growing opposition in the State Senate, where critics warn it could grant Bayer sweeping immunity.
Republican state Rep. Mazzie Christensen has spoken out against the proposal, comparing it to the federal PREP Act, which shielded vaccine manufacturers from liability. Christensen also noted that many countries have restricted glyphosate-based herbicides, while Bayer is seeking legal protections in Missouri instead.
Beyond Missouri, Bayer and other pesticide manufacturers have significantly increased their political spending across the country. Campaign finance records show that industry-backed PACs have dramatically boosted donations to lawmakers in states considering similar liability-limiting bills.
Bayer has already paid out $10 billion of the $16 billion it set aside for Roundup-related settlements, but with more lawsuits looming, the company is aggressively pushing legislative measures to limit its financial exposure.
