Background: Monsanto, the company that brings us Roundup herbicide (weed-killer) decided it would be groovy to genetically modify soybean seeds to resist Roundup. This, so that entire crops of food we eat can be sprayed with poison and survive. These seeds were cleverly tagged “Roundup Ready”, and Monsanto now boasts a whole line of genetically modified seeds.
I’ve been a critic of Monsanto and its genetically modified seeds for years but people mostly just roll their eyes at me. Finally, Vanity Fair takes Monsanto to task. It’s a long article, but one that I think is very important to read, especially if this is the first you’ve heard of Monsanto’s atrocities. Here are just a few tidbits:
“Monsanto spends more than $2 million a day in research to identify, test, develop and bring to market innovative new seeds and technologies that benefit farmers,” Monsanto spokesman Darren Wallis [says].
Huh. Mother Nature does it for free. And do these seeds really benefit farmers? Or Monsanto? Monsanto’s seeds cannot be saved year to year and planted; rather, each year farmers must buy a new batch if they want to continue to be able to use Roundup Ready seeds (here, let me just say thank you to the farmers who opt out of Roundup Ready seeds). Monsanto has convinced growers that their product saves them time and money, and now holds a corner on that market.
And now they’re trying to mess with milk:
The company is also seeking to extend its reach into milk production by marketing an artificial growth hormone for cows that increases their output, and it is taking aggressive steps to put those who don’t want to use growth hormone at a commercial disadvantage.
The impact on the environment and our food supply is scary, but Monsanto - now the largest seed company in the world - is attacking small farmers and interfering with legislation that will require labeling of milk for growth hormone content. This company is nasty.
This whole scenario reminds me of A Wrinkle in Time. Remember IT? The brain that offeres security in exchange for compliance? Well, I want to be the kid who fights back.
**Note** The USA does not require the labeling of products grown from genetically modified seeds. The only way to avoid these products is to buy organic.
Becky said,
April 26, 2008 @ 8:47 am
Organic or old heirloom/heritage varieties. And growing your own heirloom fruits and vegetables, from seed from such places as
http://www.seedsofchange.com/
And don’t buy or use canola oil. It’s very difficult even for organic farmers to grow non-GM canola because it’s so hard to keep a field uncontaminated by the GM stuff.
But then I’m a cranky certified organic farmer and gardener. What I find very sad and disappointing is that none of our conventionally farming friends see anything wrong or ominous about the way Monsanto is wresting control away from them. If people are starting to get worried about the food supply now because of biofuel and rising grain and food prices, wait a few more years…