Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation

  • Dates
    2012 - 2015
  • Author
  • Topics Portrait, Contemporary Issues, Documentary

A photographic journey through more than one hundred years of corporate irresponsibility by the Monsanto Corporation.

Monsanto®'s dozens of Superfund sites (large contaminated sites of hight priority for the us Environmental Protection Agency ) across the United States alone are affecting hundreds of communities and their environment with terrifying health and ecological consequences. Monsanto® maintains strong ties with the us government, and especially with the FDA ( United States Food and Drugs Administration ) . It is a bed-fellow with many other economical and political power houses around the world. The company engages in campaigns of misinformation, the persecution of institutions and individuals, including scientists, farmers and activists that dare to disclose their crimes. Monsanto® is spreading new technologies and products, while scientists, ecological institutions and human rights organization are putting out alerts for issues like public health, food safety and ecological sustainability —issues on which our future on this planet depends. This is all particularly troublesome since Monsanto® is entering a new chapter of disregard for our planet through the creation and commercialization of GMO's. Visiting its past and presents, this project aims to picture what Monsanto®’s near future will look like.

© Mathieu Asselin - Monsanto® magazine ads.
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Monsanto® magazine ads.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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For nearly 40 years, while producing the now banned industrial coolants known as PCBs at a local factory, Monsanto® routinely discharged toxic waste into a west Anniston creek and dumped millions of pounds of PCBs into oozing open-pit landfills. Thousands of pages of Monsanto® documents —many emblazoned with warnings such as «Confidential: Read and Destroy»— show that for decades, the corporate giant concealed what it did and what it knew. CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK. WEST ANNISTON, ALABAMA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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David Baker (65) at his brother Terry's grave. Terry Baker died at the age of 16 from a brain tumor and lung cancer, caused by PBC exposure. The average level of PCB in Anniston is 27 times higher than the national average. EDGEMONT CEMETERY. WEST ANNISTON, ALABAMA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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A house abandoned due to high levels of PCBs in close proximity to the Solutia Plant, formerly a Monsanto® plant. With more than 20 thousand residents affected in this low income area, it represents the biggest impact on a single community by one contamination. In recent years, Monsanto® has bought and demolished around 100 PCB-contaminated houses and businesses in the area, turning the neighborhood into a virtual ghost town. WEST ANNISTON, ALABAMA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Abandoned park.WEST ANNISTON, ALABAMA. 2012
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Abandoned park. WEST ANNISTON, ALABAMA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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David Roddick: Most of us have some PCBs in our blood. —the average level is 2 parts per billion. In a survey of 3,000 Anniston residents whose blood was tested for the lawsuit. As David Roddick, suffering from multiple heath problems like diabetes and respiratory deficiency, more than a third of the population in West Anniston have levels greater than 10 parts per billion, and 41 tested greater than 100 parts per billion. WEST ANNISTON, ALABAMA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Postcard of the former Monsanto® factory in Anniston from 1936.
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Postcard of the former Monsanto® factory in Anniston from 1936.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Internal documents from 1970 show Monsanto®'s attempts to keep the public in the dark about PCBs. These documents further demonstrate Monsanto®'s efforts to manipulate scientific studies in Monsanto®'s favor. Monsanto®'s conduct throughout the period during which the company produced PCBs was less than commendable. Their attempts today to backpedal on what they represented as science and avoid responsibility for the global saturation of PCBs is equally discouraging, as are their repeated attempts to «green» their image with flashy, expensive PR campaigns.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Lee Roy Muck at his home in the Poca Basin, close to one of the Monsanto® illegal dump sites. Like an alarming number of residents in the area, his wife suffered a cancer related death. POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Ilegal dump site.POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012
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Ilegal dump site. POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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For years, leaks from the bum sites have contaminated the Poca River, which flows into the Kamawha River, the largest inland waterway in West Virginia. POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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The Poca River basin is part of an area locally known as the «Chemical Valley». During the 1950s and early 1960s, the area was the leading chemical producer in the world. Monsanto®'s plant near the town of Nitro was the primary manufac- turer of Agent Orange. The waste and residue from the plant were illegally dumped around the area. For years, the leaks from the dump sites have contaminated the Poca River. POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Monsanto® magazine ad.
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Monsanto® magazine ad.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Amber Beller holds a photograph of her mother, Shirley Beller, who died of ovarian cancer in 2006. POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Headless snake in a contaminated site.POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012
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Headless snake in a contaminated site. POCA RIVER BASIN, WEST VIRGINIA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Monsanto® magazine ad.
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Monsanto® magazine ad.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Heather Bowser holds a photograph of her father. Morris had served in Viet Nam in areas that were sprayed by Agent Orange while he was stationed there. Morris' many health problems were directly tied to exposure to Agent Orange. Bill Morris passed away on March11,1998. CANFIELD, OHIO. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Heather Bowser, describes herself as a child of Agent Orange. She was born with several fingers and part of her right leg missing. Her father, Bill Morris, fought in Viet Nam and was exposed to Agent Orange. CANFIELD, OHIO. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Kelly L. Derricks is the daughter of deceased Viet Nam veteran Harry C. Mackel Jr. Mackel died in 1982 at 37, after having being exposed to Agent Orange while serving two tours in Viet Nam. Kelly has battled severe health issues all her life. Some of her illnesses, presumed to be associated with the intergenerational effects of Agent Orange, include Chronic kidney disease, Crohn's disease, Addison's disease, Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Intersticial cystitis and Degenerative disk disease. The complete list consists of 32 illnesses. In 2000, Kelly became permanently disabled and had to retire from her job as a psychiatric therapist. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Th'o'ng Sinh,14 years old. Multiple genetics disorders and malformations. TÛ DÛ OBSTETRICS HOSPITAL. HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM. 2015

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Nguyên Lê Phu’o’ng Quy` nh, 27 years old. Multiple genetics disorders and malformations. TRUNG DUNG WARD, BIÊN HOÀ, ĐÔNG NAI. VIET NAM. 2015

© Mathieu Asselin - Nguyên Lê Phu'o'ng Quy` nh as an infant.
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Nguyên Lê Phu'o'ng Quy` nh as an infant.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Thuy` Linh, 21 years old. Third generation Agent Orange victim Genetic malformation, born without arms. Thuy` Linh finished high school 2 years ago. She was applying to many universities to study but most of them didn't accept her because missing arms. Her mom finally found one school who accept her. She finished her designing course few months ago. At this time, she is looking for a suitable job. She went to Tû Dû Obstetrics Hospital when she was 3 years old and stayed until she was 18. HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM. 2015

© Mathieu Asselin - Thuy` Linh as an infant.
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Thuy` Linh as an infant.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Minh So'n, 17 years old. Multiple genetics disorders and malformations. TÛ DÛ OBSTETRICS HOSPITAL. HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM. 2015

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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View of glass jar at Tû Dû Hospital which contain fetuses deformed as a result of the United States' herbicidal warfare (Agent Orange) program during the Viet Nam War. TÛ DÛ OBSTETRICS HOSPITAL. HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM. 2015

© Mathieu Asselin - MONSANTO® HERBICIDE HANDBOOK. 2014
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MONSANTO® HERBICIDE HANDBOOK. 2014

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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In 1996, Monsanto® introduced its first GMO seeds. It ensured that farmers could not save the seeds and essentially loose the ownership of their seeds. Consequently, the power balance shifted away from the farmers to corporations who now own about 80 percent of GM corn and 93 percent of the GM soy market. Now farmers not only have to buy the seeds from the corporations year after year, but they are also forced to comply with the rules and regulations embedded in the contracts, which are designed to put the farmers at a juridical disadvantage. VAN BUREN, INDIANA. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - Monsanto® GMO Seeds.GENEVA, INDIANA. 2013
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Monsanto® GMO Seeds. GENEVA, INDIANA. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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74-year-old Mo Parr is a seed cleaner. He is hired by farmers to separate debris from the seeds to be replanted. Monsanto® sued him claiming he was «aiding and abetting» farmers, helping them to violate the patent.The company subpoenaed Parr's bank records without his know- ledge, and found his customers. After receiving calls from Monsanto®, some of the farmers stopped talking to him. Monsanto® won its legal case against Parr. ROLLING PRAIRIE, INDIANA. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - Monsanto® magazine ad.
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Monsanto® magazine ad.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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In July 2004, David Runyon and his family became victims of Monsanto®'s persecution of farmers. Wrongly accused of using Monsanto®'s patented seeds, David was coerced by Monsanto®'s lawyers to turn over all his business records, including taxes. GENEVA, INDIANA. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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In the 1970s, Monsanto® introduced Glyphosate under the trade name Roundup. With its heavy use in agriculture, weed resistance to glyphosate is a growing problem. While glyphosate and formulations such as Roundup have been approved by regulatory bodies worldwide and are widely used, concerns about their effects on humans and the environment persist. On March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the WHO (World Health Organization) said glyphosate, the active ingredient in the Monsanto® herbicide Roundup, was classified as «probably carcinogenic to humans». It also said there was «limited evidence» that glyphosate was carcinogenic in humans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. GENEVA, INDIANA. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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Troy Roush, a farmer, was wrongly accused of saving seeds. The legal fight against Monsanto® cost him $390,000 in lawyers' fees. Since then he has begun to see the way the system is devastating traditional farming. « Genetically modified crops are destroying the social fabric of our rural communities», he says. Roush probably couldn't go back to conventional crops even if he could find good conventional seed. Once Monsanto®'s DNA is in a field, it is almost impossible to get it out. And with the corporate DNA police regularly checking, farmers can't afford to take a chance. VAN BUREN, INDIANA. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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The city of Sauget was formed in 1926 and was known as «Monsanto® City». In the time of strict environmental regulations, «Monsanto® City» provided a liberal regulatory environ- ment and low taxes for the Monsanto® chemical plants. Monsanto®'s plant in Sauget was the nations's largest producer of PCBs, a cancer-causing chemical. High concentration of dioxin and PCBs were detected in a 2-mile-stretch of a local creek, located within a residential area of Sauget. Toxic substances were associated with chemical products and wastes from the Monsanto® facilities. In 2001, after years of investigation, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated the plant site along Dead Creek as a Superfund Site. SAUGET, ILLINOIS. 2012

© Mathieu Asselin - News Paper print 1979.
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News Paper print 1979.

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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The State Historical Society of Missouri at University of Missouri in Columbia. Microfilm machine and cartridge with the Sturgeon accident headline. STURGEON, MISSOURI. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - Image from the Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation photography project
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On January 10, 1979, at this intersection, a freight train accident in Sturgeon spilled thousands of gallons of wood preservative called Chlorophenol. The cargo came from Monsanto®'s chemical plant in Sauget, where it had until recently been manufacturing its PCBs. Monsanto® tried to deny the presence of dioxin ( the most toxic man made chemical) in the spill. However, EPA- testings confirmed high levels. Monsanto® was found liable for failing to warn Sturgeon residents about the risks of this spill. STURGEON, MISSOURI. 2013

© Mathieu Asselin - MONSANTO® BILLS HOLDER. 2014
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MONSANTO® BILLS HOLDER. 2014

© Mathieu Asselin - MONSANTO® KEY HOLDER. 2014
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MONSANTO® KEY HOLDER. 2014

© Mathieu Asselin - MONSANTO® PLAYING CARDS SET. 2014
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MONSANTO® PLAYING CARDS SET. 2014

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