Abstract

Cheminova is perhaps the most infamous corporation in Danish history. The company has gained notoriety for its production of pesticides and for being involved in multiple pollution scandals across several decades. Presently, Cheminova is responsible for three of the largest and most heavily contaminated sites in Denmark, while ongoing pollution cases have avalanched in recent years. Moreover, Cheminova have been the subject of criticism for its role in the global export of highly toxic chemicals to the Global South. Additionally, the company has been accused of lobbying for chemicals suspected of being endocrine disruptors, such as glyphosate. Despite the extensive and pervasive nature of these narratives, Cheminova has effectively managed to navigate the criticism it has faced over the years, successfully persuading the public and authorities of its innocence or improvement.

This presentation posits the question of how a corporation such as Cheminova, which has been implicated in several past and ongoing domestic and international pollution scandals, managed to remain relatively unscathed. While the answer is multiple and far from straightforward, the presentation offers a historical perspective that delves into the science of pollution, environmental regulation, and corporate strategies. In this regard, the presentation explores the nexus between pesticide production and pollution in the context of the welfare state, the association between industry, bureaucracy, and science, and the normalization of chemical pollution.

Coffee/tea, cake and fruit will be served @ 2 pm.