Protesters rally at Iowa Capitol as Bayer disputes the Roundup cancer claims

Dozens of protesters convened at the Iowa Capitol building on Monday, voicing strong opposition against Bayer’s renewed efforts to secure legal immunity for its pesticide products, including the widely used weedkiller Roundup, which is alleged to cause cancer. The proposed legislation, active in Iowa and several other states, aims to exempt pesticide companies from liability for cancer claims if their product labels comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

Similar legislative attempts in 2024 failed in Iowa, Missouri, and Idaho. However, Bayer, alongside a coalition of agricultural groups, is intensifying its campaign this year, arguing that glyphosate-based Roundup is crucial for U.S. agriculture. The campaign includes a broader media initiative and endorsements from groups claiming that the legislation is necessary to counteract Chinese influence over the U.S. food supply.

Opponents of the bill, including numerous individuals affected by cancer, argue that it would undermine the ability of consumers to hold companies accountable. “I feel like we need accountability here in Iowa,” stated Nick Schutt, a part-time farmer with multiple family members diagnosed with cancer. He emphasized the importance of holding multinational companies like Bayer accountable.

Despite Bayer’s denial of the carcinogenic claims linked to Roundup, the company faces approximately 177,000 lawsuits related to the weedkiller and has earmarked $16 billion for settlements. The company argues that these legal costs are unsustainable and seeks legislative relief to prevent Roundup from potentially being withdrawn from the market.

The importance of Roundup to agriculture was underscored by Liza Lockwood, Bayer’s medical affairs lead, who described it as “the most important product in global agriculture” during a Missouri Senate committee hearing. Some local farmers, like Kevin Ross, support the product’s availability, citing its benefits for soil quality, reduced water runoff, and economic support for farmers.

In 2023, Bayer concentrated its lobbying efforts on states significant to its operations, such as Missouri, Iowa, and Idaho. This year, legislation providing legal protection against failure-to-warn claims has already passed the North Dakota House unanimously. Additional bills are moving through legislative processes in states including Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Florida, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

The Modern Ag Alliance, supported by Bayer, is campaigning broadly for this legislation, while the newly formed Protecting America Initiative is focusing on the purported risks of Chinese-made chemicals to American farms. This group aired a Super Bowl ad in Missouri to garner support and displayed a mobile billboard at the Iowa Capitol.

Public health concerns remain significant, with cancer physician Richard Deming highlighting the long-term health risks associated with agricultural chemicals. “There’s a clear association between ag chemical exposure in the state of Iowa and cancer incidence,” Deming stated, advocating for a policy focus on risk mitigation rather than corporate immunity.

Source: We Are Iowa