Bayer announced Wednesday that it is moving all of its U.S. glyphosate operations under its Ruveon unit, just one day after the company asked Washington to impose tariffs on Chinese imports of the chemical — the same ingredient found in its well-known Roundup weedkiller.
Bayer holds the distinction of being the only domestic manufacturer of glyphosate in the United States. On Tuesday, the company stated that “the domestic glyphosate business as it stands today is not sustainable,” a comment that drew sharp criticism from farmers who warned the tariff push would drive up the cost of herbicides they rely on.
The Ruveon unit, headquartered in St. Louis and remaining under Bayer’s ownership, will take control of all facets of U.S. glyphosate operations — including pricing decisions, sales strategies, manufacturing, and distribution logistics.
Bayer described the restructuring as part of a broader five-year plan for its Crop Science division. In the company’s own words, “Ruveon is expected to be a more nimble and well-positioned player within its commodity-based market, which requires a specialized approach to address competitive dynamics.”
The announcement follows a significant legal win for the German pharmaceutical and agriculture giant. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked thousands of state-level lawsuits accusing Bayer of failing to inform users that glyphosate may cause cancer.
Bayer veteran Alfonso Alba Ordonez has been named to lead the Ruveon unit going forward.
