Roundup’s Final Countdown

It may be the “end of the road” for Roundup in the U.S.

The rundown: After years of litigation, Bayer’s CEO warned the company may stop making the weedkiller. And it may come sooner than you think. 

For years, glyphosate has been at the root of legal battles linked to users developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer found in the lymphatic system. The company has paid over $10B in no-fault settlements over the past seven years.

Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said producing and selling glyphosate is a breakeven business, at best. However, factoring in legal payouts brings net losses to $2B to $3B annually.

A recent earnings call revealed that Bayer is working significantly to contain litigation in 2026. Eventually, however, the glyphosate business would have to be separated from the rest of the Crop Protection division.

Farming on edge: If Bayer discontinues Roundup, farmers could face shortages and be forced to rely on imports from China or switch to other herbicides, which may be less effective or more harmful.

Additionally, the struggle to gain approval for dicamba, an alternative herbicide, further complicates the situation. Farmers may be running out of options sooner rather than later. 

Soundbite: “We’re pretty much reaching the end of the road. We’re talking months, not years.” — Anderson