Squeaky Clean: Monsanto's Publicity for Roundup Weedkiller

In May 2019, a 2 billion dollar verdict was delivered against Monsanto that concluded that the popular weedkiller, Roundup, caused cancer. This was the third case in the past two years that found that the company had failed to warn consumers of Roundup's dangers.

Roundup has been Monsanto's flagship product since the late 1990s when they introduced genetically modified seeds that were resistent to the herbicide, thus allowing it to kill weeds in isolation. Since then, Monsanto has pushed for the widespread use of the weedkiller through targeted, strategic framing and advertising.

An internal comapany memo from 1995 discusses an "Environmental Philanthropy" project reseraching weed control in the Galapagos to boost Roundup's image.

The benefit of this project, according to the company document, was its business oppurtunity.

"There is a business connection to this project in that we are hoping to sell Roundup in the Galapagos as the research shows results."

Monsanto undertook many more similar projects, painting Roundup as a familiar, globally helpful, and environmentally friendly product. They even had an "Environmental Giving" team to meticulously workshop their image. The Galapagos research was one of these projects. Read about how Monsanto donated Roundup to urban plots in East St. Louis to help the area "rejuvinate itself" and get "good publicity" here.