Farmers warn Canada's approval of U.S. grain trader Bunge's $34-billion takeover of Glencore-backed Viterra will reduce their options to sell crops at competitive prices, and say the government did not require enough concessions.

The National Farmers Union denounced the approval of the Bunge-Viterra merger in a statement released on Jan. 17. The NFU said the multi-billion dollar deal “effectively ends competition in Canada’s agricultural commodity sector,

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA — Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) said the approval of Bunge Global SA’s acquisition of Viterra does not go far enough to protect market competition for Canadian farmers and it is “extremely disappointed” by the decision announced Jan. 14 by Minister of Transport Anita Anand.

Bunge Global SA, one of the world’s largest crop traders, received approval from Canada for its $8 billion acquisition of Viterra Inc.Most Read from BloombergThese Homes Withstood the LA Fires. Architects Explain WhyAs E-Bikes Boom in NYC,

Canada has approved Bunge’s $8.2 billion deal for Glencore-backed Viterra, as the companies agreed to concessions to address previous antitrust concerns.

Among the conditions, Canada is calling on Bunge to divest six grain elevators in Western Canada to maintain competitive balance for farmers in the region, as well as to retain Viterra’s head office in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, for at least five years to help “protect Canadian jobs.”

The conditions and terms attached to the federal approval of Bunge Ltd.’s US$8.2-billion acquisition of Viterra Ltd. are “woefully inadequate” to address the profound impact on the market, Grain Growers of Canada’s executive director says.

The federal government’s approval of the Bunge-Viterra deal puts Saskatchewan jobs and farmers at risk. Less competition means lower incomes and fewer opportunities. In a statement, the Government of Saskatchewan said its priority is ensuring producers in the province “continue to be competitive with access to key global markets

Canada's government said late Tuesday it approved Bunge's (NYSE:BG) proposed acquisition of Glencore-backed (OTCPK:GLCNF) (OTCPK:GLNCY) Viterra after the companies agreed to concessions to address antitrust concerns.