Monsanto

Hey everyone, Arielle here again. In my last post I raised an important question, "Why isn't Trinidad using GMOs yet?" This post aims to answer that. The biggest issue for a small country like Trinidad and Tobago to establish planting GM crops is the cost. The concept of the product itself is amazing; yes, there are some setbacks, but most of which can be solved, (some were covered in our previous posts). The major companies that produce these GM control production, distribution and use, and have a solid legal framework to ensure you go through them to acquire seeds each time you plant.

GMOs Big Six

Credit: Genetic Literacy Project

The most common GM producer is Monsanto, which was founded in 1901 and became the face of industrial agriculture, as a major chemical company. Since then, Monsanto was in the spotlight of controversy as some of these chemicals were harmful. In 1994 they patented their first GMO product, Glyphosate Resistant, "Round-Up Ready" soybean.

Who is Monsanto?

Credit: Monsanto

In an attempt to introduce GMOs to Europe, although the European Unions approved, the consumers rebelled and refused this. Monsanto responded to this with multiple ad campaigns which was seen as insensitive and to UK, Monsanto looked like a bully (Anderson, 2014). To make matters worse for Monsanto, a Canadian farmer, Percy Schmeiser, was sued by Monsanto in 1998 as he refused to pay the licensing fee for growing Round-Up Ready Canola (Zhou, 2015). His claim was that the GM Canola seeds blew on his farm accidentally and had no intentions to use them. In 2008 however, Monsanto ended up paying the farmer out of court, for all cleanup costs and an agreement was made that Monsanto could be sued for recontamination (Mercola, 2011). There have been many similar cases and Monsanto won them (Gillam, 2013). This leaves the question, why does a farmer have to pay for something he didn’t intentionally grow?

Additionally, a farmer cannot simply save seeds from their previous crops and replant. Nope! Monsanto can sue for that too. A farmer has to sign a license agreement and pay to use that also. According to Monsanto, they patent their products to ensure that they are paid for their products and the investments they put into developing their products (Monsanto, 2017), rightly so, but it does seem like a monopoly. It makes it much harder for a small farmer or a small country, like Trinidad to use GM seeds. It is a recurring cost, every time crops are to be planted and the risk of a lawsuit may run high, especially with how small Trinidad is. Several anti-GMO campaigns believe that companies like Monsanto and Syngenta are all about the industry, and in my opinion, I agree as I believe that GM crops can be the solution to food security, but the corporate control is the barrier, preventing this.

GMO Controversy

Credit: Food and Water Watch

You can read up more about Monsanto and the Facts on Monsanto's Approach to Licensing and you can also check out a copy of Monsanto's License, outlining the terms and conditions.

References:

Anderson, L. (2014, March 4). Why Does Everyone Hate Monsanto? [Web log post] Modern Farmer. Retrieved from https://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/monsantos-good-bad-pr-problem/

Gillam, C. (2013, June 10). Monsanto Wins Lawsuit Filed by U.S. Organic Farmers Worried About Seed Contamination. [Web log post] Huffpost. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/10/monsanto-wins-lawsuit_n_3417081.html

Mercola, J. (2011). Finally... Solo Farmer Fights Monsanto and Wins. Mercola Health. Retrieved from https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/25/percy-schmeiser-farmer-who-beat-monsanto.aspx

Monsanto. (2017). Licensing. Monsanto Company. Retrieved from https://monsanto.com/company/partnering-and-licensing/licensing/

Monsanto. (2011). Monsanto Technology/ Stewardship Agreement. The Farmers Life. Retrieved from http://thefarmerslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/scan_doc0004.pdf

Monsanto. (2017). Roundup Ready Soybean Patent Expiration. Monsanto Company. Retrieved fromhttps://monsanto.com/company/media/statements/roundup-ready-soybean-patent-expiration/

Monsanto. (2017). Why Does Monsanto Sue Farmers Who Save Seeds. Monsanto Company. Retrieved from https://monsanto.com/company/media/statements/saving-seeds/

Parker, C. (2013, July 25). How Monsanto is Terrifying the Farming World. [Web log post]. Miami New Times. Retrieved from http://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/how-monsanto-is-terrifying-the-farming-world-6392824

Zhou, W. (2015, August 10). The Patent Landscape of Genetically Modified Organisms. [Web log post] Science in The News Harvard University. Retrieved from http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/the-patent-landscape-of-genetically-modified-organisms/

Images:

Carini, F. (2014). GMO Opponents Worry Big Six Ag Companies Monopolize Global Food Supply. Genetic Literacy Project. Retrieved from https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/29/gmo-opponents-worry-big-six-ag-companies-monopolize-global-food-supply/

Food and Water Watch. (2015). Five Things Monsanto Doesn't Want You to Know About GMOs. FoodandWaterWatch.org Retrieved from https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/news/five-things-monsanto-doesnt-want-you-know-about-gmos

Video:

Monsanto. (2016, March 18). Who Is Monsanto? [YouTube]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUtdRHUf6gw