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durrtyurr t1_j06ph1g wrote

Reply to comment by minniedriverstits in TIL that until 2012, when they switched to a bacterial source, Roche Pharmaceuticals used up to 90% of the world's annual star anise crop to produce shikimic acid, a chemical intermediate used in the synthesis of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) by Kintpuash-of-Kush

It's actually a really good example of a monopsony, where there are many sellers but only one buyer. The only other example that I can come up with off the top of my head is barley in South Africa, where there are hundreds of farmers who grow barley but South African Brewing buys 90% of all the barley grown in the country.

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