Garst Seed Company

Garst Seed Company
Company typeAgriculture/Subsidiary
IndustryAgriculture
FoundedCoon Rapids, Iowa (1931)
DefunctDecember 31, 2013
FateRetired by Syngenta
Headquarters
Slater, Iowa
,
United States
Key people
Roswell Garst, Founder
Charley Thomas, Founder
ProductsHybrid and varietal seeds
ParentSyngenta
WebsiteGolden Harvest Seeds

Garst Seed Company was a U.S.-based subsidiary of Syngenta that produced hybrid seeds for agriculture.

History

In 1931, Garst and Thomas Hi-Bred Corn Company was founded by Roswell Garst and Charley Thomas in Coon Rapids, Iowa, and was "instrumental in promoting the use of hybrid corn."[1] During the Cold War, Garst formed a relationship with Nikita Khrushchev and assisted the USSR in modernizing its corn production.[1]

In 1983, the company split up and Garst Seed Company was formed.[1]

In 1985 Garst was acquired by Imperial Chemical Industries's American subsidiary.[1]

In 1993, ICI sold off its North American assets, and Garst seed business became part of a new company called Zeneca.[1]

In 1996, Garst became part of Advanta Group, formed through the merger of Zeneca Seeds and VanderHave.[1] Zeneca became part of AstraZeneca and VanderHave was controlled by a Dutch farmer-owned co-operative called Cosun U.A.[2]

In 2004, Astrazeneca and Cosun sold Garst to Syngenta.[1][3]

In 2013, Syngenta announced the retirement of the Garst seed brand. Operations ceased in 2014 and remaining Garst hybrid corn seed products were rebranded to Golden Harvest.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Dinger, Ed. "Garst Seed Company, Inc". Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  2. ^ Bijman, J. (2001). Advanta: Worldwide challenges. AgBioForum, 4(1), 34-39.
  3. ^ Staff, Farm Futures. May 12, 2004 Syngenta Buys Garst Seed Company Archived 2013-10-08 at archive.today
  4. ^ Karen McMahon (2013-03-13). "Syngenta's Garst Brand Ends in 2014". Farm Industry News. Retrieved 2014-03-22.