The Wall Street Journal reports that Syngenta is discussing with DuPont a potential combination with DuPont’s agriculture division.
However, sources said the discussions are at an early stage and may result in no deal.
The talks though have clearly gathered steam since Monsanto in August abandoned its effort to acquire Syngenta for as much as $46 billion after being turned away by the Swiss company.
That deal would have created the world’s largest supplier of seeds and pesticides, but Monsanto now could face the threat of much-enlarged competitors if its rivals end up combining and it strikes no combination of its own, analysts say.
Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris said on a conference call last month “everyone is talking to everyone.”
The merger talks come as farm income hit its lowest level in nearly a decade.
