Monsanto and its GE Crops
Organic crops have been grown by farmers for centuries and have adapted well to its environment. Since there is a variety of different environments, there is a variety of genes to adapt to one particular environment. This is why it's more safe to have a variety of genes.
I'm afraid the stability in crop supply is being threatened by GE crops. It's true that the crop gets genetically engineered to be strong to certain diseases, insecticides and herbicides (made by the same company). But one mustn't forget that the native crops are more resistant to the calamities of its region, such as diseases, pests, climate, etc. Monsanto didn't create a crop that would be resistant to everyone of these, and each of its species have the same genes. Unfortunately, Monsanto's GE crops are dominating the market. Why am I worried - think of what happened in Ireland because of the lack of variety (in this case, a lack of variety in species).
Another particular crop scares me. Monsanto is creating a crop that won't create seeds. This is to ensure that the farmers follow the patent law that doesn't allow the farmers to grow those seeds. This is to make the farmers buy more of Monsanto's seeds. What if this gets mixed up with the native crops? Fortunately, the company announced that it won't sell this, although the company also announced that it was still researching it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto
Another thing that's very concerning is the way Monsanto controls farmers through patents. Farmers have to pay higher because of this. Farmers who haven't bought Monsanto's crops get accused of stealing the seeds. These seeds spread to other farms easily through the wind, insects and birds. It's not fair for the farmers. Here is an article that explains the patent issue:Terminator seed controversy
In June 2007,[33] Monsanto acquired Delta & Pine Land Company, a company that had patented a seed technology nicknamed Terminators. This technology, which was never known to have been used commercially, produces plants that have sterile seeds so they do not flower or grow fruit after the initial planting. This prevents the spread of those seeds into the wild, however it also requires customers to repurchase seed for every planting in which they use Terminator seed varieties. Farmers who do not use a terminator seed could also be affected by his neighboring farmer that does through natural pollination. In recent years, widespread opposition from environmental organizations and farmer associations has grown, mainly out of the concerns that hypothetical seeds using this technology could increase farmers' dependency on seed suppliers.
Despite the fact that in 1999, Monsanto pledged not to commercialize Terminator technology,[34] Delta Vice President, Harry Collins, declared at the time in a press interview in the Agra/Industrial Biotechnology Legal Letter, ‘We’ve continued right on with work on the Technology Protection System (TPS or Terminator). We never really slowed down. We’re on target, moving ahead to commercialize it. We never really backed off.’ [35]
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/f...monsanto200805
Unfortunately, native crops are becoming rare wherever Monsanto's crops are being sold:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/9903
Here are some more links on Monsanto:
http://forums.thedailyshow.com/?page...hread_id=23487
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundup...modified_crops
Why am I concerned - what if a disease that could be a blow to the GE crops start to spread? What if a native crop that was resistant to that disease has already become rare?
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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
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