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Monsanto Argumentative Essay

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A final argument against genetically modifying foods is that the large agriculture conglomerates which are responsible for manufacturing them, like aforementioned Monsanto, ruthlessly destroy the environment, as well as smaller farming businesses. Take for example, a company like Monsanto, which owns 80 percent of genetically modified corn market, and 93 percent of the modified soy market. Monsanto is a perfect representation of the types of companies that sell genetically modified organisms. Monsanto is more commonly for a rather infamous previous product of theirs, called dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, otherwise known as the pesticide DDT. DDT was one of the most widely used pesticides in the 1960s, as it was sprayed almost everywhere mainly in an effort to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes. After being linked to mass animal reproduction and liver problems, it was banned in 1972 (Center for Disease Control). DDT residue is still being found thirty years later (DDT Residue in California Soil). Other Monsanto products include Agent Orange, a chemical weapon used in the …show more content…

Monsanto makes money by selling their genetically altered seeds to farmers. The farmers sign an contract that says they are not allowed to save and replant those seeds sold to them next year. Sometimes, a farmer might save some seeds for next year, in which case Monsanto finds out, and sues them (Why Does Monsanto Sue Farmers?). Sometimes, genetically modified material from Monsanto accidentally ends up in a farmers field. Regardless of intention, Monsanto will still sue. This is because of a law that allows companies to patent genetic alterations. With its patents, Monsanto and companies like it basically own these small business farmers. If there were no genetic modifications, the farmers would be free to farm normal seeds, without having to sell their soul for debatably better

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