Monsanto: The Sweetener and the Salesman (Part 1)

About this episode

The episode explores the life of John Francis Queeny and the founding of Monsanto, detailing its controversial beginnings and the impact on modern agriculture.

Who was John Francis Queeny, the broke Irish-American salesman who founded one of the most powerful and controversial companies in the history of modern agriculture - without knowing the first thing about chemistry? Why did a secret deal with Coca-Cola, a presidential letter, and a warehouse full of matches save his fledgling empire from collapse? And how does the unlikely story of a fake sweetener made from coal tar in St. Louis open a window onto the birth of the American chemical industry; from patent medicines and caffeine trials to the fossil chemistry that would one day reshape what the entire world eats? Join John and Patrick as they begin their six-part series on Monsanto - the company that started with saccharin and ended up controlling the farm - in an age when there were no labels, no regulations, and absolutely no shortage of things that could kill you... ---------- In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business ----------- Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Support us! Share this episode with your friends Give a 5-star rating…

People in this episode

Hosts: John, Patrick

Topics covered

• Monsanto
• agriculture
• chemical industry
• history
• sweeteners
• patent medicines

Keywords

• Monsanto
• John Francis Queeny
• saccharin
• Coca-Cola
• agriculture
• chemical industry
• history

Sponsors

Cornell University, Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Monsanto, Coca-Cola

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