A whopping 90 percent of American voters oppose the proposed mega $66 billion crop science merger between Bayer and Monsanto, according to a new poll from Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling.
The deal would have a significant impact in the Triangle, where Bayer Crop Science operates a headquarters. Monsanto also has operations in the state.
According to the poll:
- 90 percent of voters nationwide say they have either “very serious concerns” or “somewhat serious concerns”
- That includes 91 percent of Democrats
- 90 percent of Republicans
- 90 percent of those polled also “are concerned about concentrated corporate power as a whole”
Other findings in the poll:
- “The vast majority of Americans suspect that the merger of two of the world’s largest producers of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, will increase chemical contamination of the food they and their families eat every day.
- “Nine-in-ten voters understand that the Monsanto-Bayer merger would pose a serious threat to the viability of independent farmers across the country.
- “Greater than four-in-five voters are concerned that the Monsanto-Bayer merger will result in layoffs and fewer jobs overall.
- “When it comes to corporate consolidation in general, over 80% of American voters believe that mergers result in fewer choices for consumers and reduce the power of consumers in the economy.
- “Americans say the federal government is more interested in helping corporations improve returns for their shareholders than looking out for what’s best for the average consumer.
- “Voters plan on taking their reservations about corporate consolidation and monopolization to the voting booth in 2018.”
PPP surveyed what it says is a “demographically representative sample of 1,506 registered voters nationwide” between June 1-4 through automated telephone interviews.
