Monsanto buys ‘Terminator’ seeds company
The United States Government has been financing research on a genetic engineering technology which, when commercialized, will give its owners the power to control the food seed of entire nations or regions. The Government has been working quietly on this technology since 1983. Now, the little-known company that has been working in this genetic research with the Government’s US Department of Agriculture-- Delta & Pine Land-- is about to become part of the world’s largest supplier of patented genetically-modified seeds (GMO), Monsanto Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri.
Relations between Monsanto, Delta & Pine Land and the USDA, on closer scrutiny, show the deep and dark side of the much-heralded genetic revolution in agriculture. It proves deep-held suspicions that the Gene Revolution is not about ‘solving the world hunger problem’ as its advocates claim. It’s about handing over control of the seeds for mankind’s basic food supply—rice, corn, soybeans, wheat, even fruit, vegetables and cotton—to privately owned corporations. Once the seeds and their use are patented and controlled by one or several private agribusiness multinationals, it will be they who can decide whether or not a particular customer—let’s say for argument, China or Brazil or India or Japan—whether they will or won’t get the patented seeds from Monsanto, or from one of its licensee GMO partners like Bayer Crop Sciences, Syngenta or DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred International.
This is a real interesting story about the rise of Delta & Pine Land and their work with the US Government on Terminator technology for GMO crops. In short, Terminator technology makes sure the seed a farmer would save from his crop is sterile and will not germinate, ensuring that the farmer has to buy seed from the big agri business instead of saving some back to plant. I would really be curious to know why, when the US Government had a hand in Terminator development, a private company was allowed to patent the technology and control it. Before you blame the Bush Administration check the article and the time line and names involved. Arkansas companies and the Clinton's figure highly in this and the patent, to a private company for government technology, was handed down during the Clinton Administration.
Monsanto is buying this technology since they all ready control a large portion of the GMO markets and controlling the seeds fertility will only increase their profits. That's real obvious. The control a company can exert with this technology is tremendous. Yes, I understand a farmer doesn't need to use the GMO seed, but to be competitive sometimes the farmer has no choice. The idea of one company controlling the bases of food supply is scary.
Over 130 developing nations agree that this technology is bad for the human race and are working to stop it's spread.
I vaguely remember when the Terminator technology was patented and the hoop-da-la that was associated with it. I haven't heard about it much though since then but Monsanto buying the technology has brought it to the forefront again, at least to me. A little research on the Internet indicates the rest of the world is very aware of this technology and are doing what they can to stop it. They are worried that it will be used as a weapon against the poor people of the world by the rich American and European countries. They worry that the rich countries will get the majority of their farmers using seeds with Terminator technology with cheap prices then have them over a barrel and withhold seed or sell it for an exorbitant price down the road. I don't blame them for there concern. It's real.
Stumbling across this information just gives me something else to worry about with the food production of the world. Bigger and bigger companies are taking over more and more of the food production of the world which is real scary. Knowledge is power. Knowledge of what is going on helps us all.
The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. James Allen
Once up on the Hi-Line, I raised GMO winter wheat & agreed that I would be subject to no end of horror if I planted some of the seed back. Because it won't germinate, you know, only the stuff you buy from Monsanto will.
Of course it was a dry year, & so the stuff didn't yield near what they claim. Certainly not enough to warrant the ~$15/bu seed cost.
But then organic wheat sells in about that range, and you don't have to sign your life away to the Evil Empire.
Once was enough for me. Never again.
Another facet of the issue is that ownership of agricultural and forest lands cannot be allowed to pass to corporations on a large scale. If it does, the rights of individuals are forever weakened and part of the promise of America is forever lost.
http://amazing-illusions.blogspot.com
Did you fellows move in from Idaho? It aint some big conspiracy, they arent taking over the world...
Moreover, just because 130 countries agree somehting is bad doesnt make it bad. If you would have polled Germans in 1939, they would have agreed Jews were bad too.
AQ
I did express concern over the potential power this could give a company. Like it or not this is true. I never spouted a conspiracy theory about it, just a concern.
The biggest question I have about the whole thing is why a private company was allowed to patent a technology that was developed jointly with the US Government. Shouldn't the Government/taxpayers get part of that patent for their investment in it?
I think you need to read what I say a little closer. Your diving off the deep end and making accusations for no apparent reason. Looking through my comments on this issue not one person said to ban the technology. They all express concern about it and express their feelings on GMO crops in general.
If you deem it necessary to comment on an issue please read what everybody has said carefully and keep it in context. Your comment was really overboard.
P.S. Fourth generation Montana rancher. So I am a Montanan, maybe more intelligent than your used to, but still a Montanan.
I was raised on a ranch in the foothills East of Glacier National Park on the Highline. I am named after Hugo Aronson, former Governor of Mt (the Galloping Swede).
I live in Southern Ca now. So I've become little edgy on the organic, envirnmental, sandal wearing, petuli oil (sp?) smelling issues. My apologies. The last time I went through Mt, I saw influences from the southland. "Cappucino Cowboy"? in Ronan? Give me a break.
I can see your point now. I dont know how government patents work. I drink tang, I use cell phones, both were developed by taxpayer monies. I dont know if anything goes back to the treasury for it all... Probably not.
As for the big companies cornering the world seed market, certain variety seeds are their proprietory product. But that doesnt stop a farmer from growing his own common public varieties. We used to set aside some of the wheat each season for planting the next year. "Oats and beans and barley grow" even still without the new gene. Don't underestimate the small farmer.
Thanks for the reply. AQ
* They feed in the coulees, they water in the draw, their tails are all matted, their backs are all raw... Old Paint, Linda Ronstadt 1977
Many crop plants like corn, don't really grow wild. So what's the point. Or is it just so the company gets to profit from the seed from each crop cycle. If that is the case, it doesn't seem like the benefits outweigh the costs.