22 Mar 2018 --- The Bayer-Monsanto tie-up has cleared another big hurdle as the European Commission (EC) conditionally approved the acquisition – the latest green light from antitrust regulators which brings the creation of a company with control of more than a quarter of the world’s seed and pesticides market closer to reality. Despite a wave of opposition from farming groups and environmentalists, German conglomerate Bayer has won EU antitrust approval to acquire the US seed giant – but it comes with conditions.