This merger would threaten food supplies around the world. Who will stop it? | Hannah Lownsbrough

If the Bayer-Monsanto merger is approved, the concentration of agricultural control could have major consequences for farming families and communities

" Hannah Lownsbrough is executive director of consumer group SumOfUs

It's the worst corporate merger you've probably never heard of, and one that could spell disaster for our global farming system. Bayer recently started the clock for the European Union to approve its $65bn takeover of Monsanto. On Tuesday, EU regulators announced that they would now launch an in-depth assessment of the merger on anti-competitive grounds - what it calls a "phase 2 investigation" - which will take several more months.

Related: Bayer raises Monsanto cash takeover offer to $65bn