By Alice McFarlane

Ag Groups Urge Saskatchewan Government to examine proposed Bunge-Viterra Merger

Oct 5, 2023 | 2:54 PM

Four Saskatchewan farm organizations want the provincial government to examine the proposed merger between Bunge and Viterra.

Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), SaskCanola, Sask Wheat and SaskBarley submitted a letter to Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit asking the government to conduct its own review in addition to the one being done by Transport Canada and Competition Bureau Canada.

APAS President Ian Boxall said he has heard producers’ concerns about the merger and with the lack of competition.

“This will have a big impact on Saskatchewan so we’re just asking that the government do their due diligence and have a little look into it,” Boxall said.

Boxall said the province has set a precedent. He pointed to the province’s examination of the 2012 Glencore-Viterra merger, and the 2010 proposed merger between Potash Corp and BHP Billiton, which eventually fell through.

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“Bunge also has money in G3 so they’re getting to where there’s not going to be much competition left so it’s going to ensure producers interests are looked after and ensure that we have adequate competition when we go to market our grain,” he said.

The group proposed six key areas for consideration:

• Assessment of Historical Consolidation Impacts: An in-depth analysis of the consequences of previous consolidations within Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry.
• Regional Competition within the Grain Handling System: A comprehensive evaluation of regional competition dynamics throughout the province’s grain handling system.
• Implications on Agricultural Markets and Supply Chain: A detailed study of the potential implications the merger may have on agricultural markets, commodity pricing, and the overall supply chain.
• Port Infrastructure Consolidation and International Market Access: An examination of the possible consolidation of port infrastructure and its effects on Saskatchewan’s access to international markets and delivery at inland handling facilities.
• Market Concentration and Ownership: An assessment of the resulting changes in industry ownership and market concentration within the province.
• Impact on Employment: An evaluation of the potential impact on head office jobs and employment within the grain industry across Saskatchewan.

All the leaders emphasized the importance of creating a structured process for discussing the concerns of the whole farming community.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW