Monsanto Proposes $7.25 Billion Roundup™ Settlement to Address U.S. Claims

18 February 2026, St. Louis: Monsanto has announced a proposed nationwide class settlement in the United States aimed at resolving current and future claims alleging that exposure to Roundup™ caused Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The proposal forms part of a broader legal and regulatory strategy that also includes ongoing judicial review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The settlement has been submitted for preliminary approval to the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, Missouri, by plaintiff law firms representing the proposed class. The agreement is subject to court approval and includes provisions allowing class members to opt out.

Funding Structure and Financial Provisions

Under the proposal, Monsanto would make declining capped annual payments over a period of up to 21 years, with total funding reaching up to USD 7.25 billion following court approval. The company said the long-term structure is intended to provide predictability in managing litigation costs related to both existing and potential future claims.

Separately, Monsanto has reached agreements on confidential terms to settle certain additional Roundup™ (glyphosate) cases. Earlier in 2026, the company also settled eight remaining PCB-related verdicts connected to the Sky Valley Education Center in Washington State and previously resolved PCB environmental cases with the U.S. states of Illinois and West Virginia.

Taking these resolutions into account, Bayer expects litigation provisions and liabilities to increase from €7.8 billion as of September 30, 2025 (including €6.5 billion related to glyphosate), to €11.8 billion (including €9.6 billion related to glyphosate), subject to final audit.

Based on an initial estimate of approximately €5 billion in litigation-related payouts during 2026, Bayer anticipates negative free cash flow for the year. The company has postponed its 2025 year-end financial results and 2026 guidance announcement to March 4 to reflect these developments.

Immediate financing for the settlements and certain bond maturities is supported by an USD 8 billion bank loan facility. Longer-term financing is expected to involve senior bonds and instruments receiving equity credit from rating agencies, without the use of an authorized capital increase.

No Admission of Liability

Monsanto stated that the settlement is intended solely to contain litigation and does not include any admission of liability or wrongdoing.

The company also noted that regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and European regulators, continue to conclude based on available scientific assessments that glyphosate-based herbicides can be used safely and are not classified as carcinogenic under their evaluations.

Link to U.S. Supreme Court Review

The settlement strategy runs in parallel with the U.S. Supreme Court’s review of the Durnell case, which addresses whether state-level failure-to-warn claims are pre-empted by federal law. The class settlement and the Supreme Court case are being pursued as separate but complementary approaches to resolving ongoing litigation exposure.

According to the company, the settlement is structured to address claims that could remain subject to litigation regardless of the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling, while the judicial decision may influence pending appeals and future cases.

Scope of the Proposed Class Program

The proposed settlement would apply to individuals who allege exposure to Roundup™ prior to February 17, 2026, and who either:

• currently have a medical diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or
• receive such a diagnosis within a 16-year period following final approval of the agreement.

The program would function as a long-term compensation framework managed by an independent claims administrator and funded for up to 21 years.

Monsanto indicated that the structure differs from a 2020 proposal, which had a shorter funding period and included provisions involving an external science panel. The current proposal instead establishes a unified claims process for present and future claimants.

Approval Process and Next Steps

The agreement requires court approval before implementation. As part of the approval process, potential class members will be notified and given the opportunity to participate or opt out. Monsanto retains the right to terminate the settlement if opt-out levels exceed agreed thresholds.

The company said it will continue to pursue additional legislative, regulatory, and legal measures alongside the settlement process as part of its broader effort to address ongoing litigation risks.

Also Read: France Becomes First Market to Approve Syngenta’s X-Terra Hybrid Wheat

Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to pr@global-agriculture.com