Monsanto Harvest Of Fear Analysis

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO’s, are organisms that have had genes from a different organism implanted into their own genetic code in order to produce a new result (“Genetically engineered foods”). This practice has elicited polar responses across the globe, for a multitude of reasons. Besides the obvious reason, being the morality of changing an organism's DNA for human benefit, one frequently noted problem is the monopolization of GMO’s by the company Monsanto, whose name is nearly synonymous with GMO’s due to their involvement with these crops. Monsanto has been at the center of many controversies regarding GMO’s, and is even considered to be ranked third to last for reputation among all major American companies (Bennett). Most

The farmers then give their products to the manufacturers, who represent the bottleneck of the food system (21). “The ten largest companies control half of the world’s seed supply. …Ten firms control 90% of the nearly $38.6 billion pesticide markets (111-112).” Monsanto, being one of the ten companies that controls the world’s seed supply, is a company that has patents on all of its seeds and products. It produces genetically modified crops that are resistant to its own pesticides and herbicides, so that when a pesticide or herbicide is sprayed and it destroys all plants, the Monsanto seed survives because of its resistance. The reason that Monsanto is able to stay in business is because of the economic benefit it poses for the farmers. They are able to produce their crops at a much higher yield because they are losing less of their crops to pests. This higher yield results in lower costs for the consumers as well (Planes). As discussed

When one company controls ninety-percent of a market, it is reasonable to open the doors to the possibility of a monopoly. This word is a board game to some, a boring econ principle to others, but a harsh reality for twenty-four million American farmers and their families. (Farmers Feed Us) Monsanto has taken control of the farming world and it is hitting farmers hard. The powerful company controls ninety-percent of the soybean market and much of other farming markers which are a lifeline for farmers across this country. It is clear to many that it is a monopoly, but nothing is being done to break up Monsanto. There is much controversy behind the issue on a political level and on what motifs there may be to keep the company together. Monsanto is hurting farmers by monopolizing the farming market and there are political ties behind the master plan to keep control.

You may not have heard about Monsanto but you’ve probably eaten genetically modified foods. What do the two have in common and how are they killing us? Here are some hard facts. Monsanto is an international agriculture company whose history dates back to the early 20th century. They began by creating the artificial sweetener saccharin. Later they moved on to carcinogenic chemicals like Agent Orange, used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. After receiving numerous environmental violations and lawsuits, today Monsanto is involved in biotechnology and the agriculture business. Monsanto suggests that they help farmers grow bigger crops, faster, while using fewer resources. But what they leave out is how they

Farmers have already paid Monsanto 20 million dollars in lawsuits. Monsanto has also investigated 1000s of other farmers across the country for seed patent infringement. Monsanto has the seed market so corned that it is almost impossible for farmers to purchase seeds that are not genetically modified. But yet Monsanto criticized Vernon Bowman for buying Monsanto seeds without paying for them and says that if Bowman wants to save money he could have bought conventional seeds. Monsanto makes it sound easy, but really Bowman only had a 10 percent chance of buying non-GMO seed.

The issue of genetically modified foods, is Farmers can't harvest seeds. Fundamentally, farming is a simple process: plant seeds, grow crops, harvest crops, and gather seeds from the plants for the next season. Sadly, GMO companies like Monsanto take this last step away from farmers and raise expenses even futher by forcing the farmers to continually buy the premium-priced GM eeds every growing season. In fact, as was shiwn in the Bowman v. Monsanto court case, it is illegal in the US for someone growing a Monsanto crop to harvest the seeds and use them later. The Nowman case went all the way to the unanimously found guilty of patent infringement after he purchased and used second generation Monsanto seeds.

To think that Monsanto practically owns the soy bean industry is crazy. Farmers who have no other choice than to use Monsanto’s seeds have almost no say when it comes to the process of growing crops. Towards the end of this documentary one of the farms refused to use Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds. He then found himself in a long legal battle that could result in him paying a fine or shutting down him farm all together.

Monsanto is involved in a variety of ways,“The company produces the herbicide RoundUp, and also seeds whose genes have been engineered to survive RoundUp's active plant-killing ingredient. Now the vast majority of this country's soybeans, corn, sugar beets and canola possess those engineered genes,”(Boyle). Initially, this seems quite innocent, however, there’s no telling what kind of chemicals are being introduced into the food supply in order to allow these plants to survive. Also, sugar and corn are contained within almost every non organic product Americans consume, which means virtually everyone is ingesting these potentially harmful chemicals. Monsanto’s RoundUp resistant seeds should seem to be a farmer’s best friend, but it’s not always so simple, “As Rinehart would recall, the man began verbally attacking him, saying he had proof that Rinehart had planted Monsanto’s genetically modified (G.M.) soybeans in violation of the company’s patent. Better come clean and settle with Monsanto, Rinehart says the man told him—or face the consequences,”(Barlett). Simply dogmatic in his manner, the mysterious Monsanto man would not take no for an answer, even though later in the article Mr. Rinehart states that he isn’t a farmer and they have the wrong guy. Commonly referred to as seed police, even gestapo or mafia, this elite force of Monsanto maniacs are lifeless and drone-like in the sense that they will stop at nothing in order to obtain a profit, and if it’s the wrong person they’ll still use scare tactics to weasel cash out of innocent civilians. Saying that Monsanto is heavily involved in the production and distribution of genetically modified crops and seeds is a massive understatement, to demonstrate this,“In 1996 when Monsanto introduced RoundUp Ready Soybeans, the company controlled only 2% of the U.S. soybean market. Now, over 90% of

Monsanto is one of the largest conglomerates in the world with ties to the food industries in most countries. Their GMO corn and soy have been at one time planted on

I personally know many farmers who barely make it by without even having to pay for more seeds every single harvest season. Monsanto is very wrong for making farmers pay for their seeds every year and reusing seeds. If that is not bad enough, those who break the rules are sued by Monsanto. Even worse than that, the courts and judges are taking the side of Monsanto, but I will save that for a different time. Countries as a whole should not allow Monsanto to sue farmers for reusing seeds or refusing to pay, especially in countries where farming is a big part of the economy or the country was built on farming. Ever since 1901 when Monsanto was built, farming has been changed drastically in positive and negative ways. Monsanto is continuously digging a bigger whole by punishing more farmers and blaming the farmers as if they are the one at fault in the situation. Many farmers are taking a stand against Monsanto’s tricks and games. There are many petitions online to stop Monsanto from suing more farmers and even stop their company altogether. Though there are many people and groups trying to stop their company, Monsanto is a very large empire in our society. This meaning, it would be very hard for their company to be brought done, almost like them completely breaking a law.

It doesn’t help that Monsanto also has power in politics, one of the Monsanto chiefs for food safety, Michael Taylor was actually appointed by Barrack Obama himself. Barrack Obama also appointed his Supreme Court judge: Elena Kagan, who happens to be the chief defender of Monsanto and GMO’s. Whether Republican or Democratic, Monsanto wields a strong power within politics that helps give them an edge in keeping their company going. (Obama). There are good aspects of Monsanto, like the efficiency of cheap seeds, and crops that can withstand the harsh behaviors of weathers, and the ability the crops have to survive a longer time. But not even the cheapest crops can cover up Monsanto’s long history of evil, from polluting the environment with PCB’s, the chemical Agent Orange, and the weed killer “Round-Up Ready”, to Monopolizing itself to being the owner of 90% of the seed industry and shutting down small

Additionally, big business controls the farmers by capitalizing on widely used commodities. For example, the company Monsanto which is based in St. Louis, Missouri protects its dominance over the genetically modified crops such as the soy bean with the use of a patent law. Because of this, Monsanto’s patented genes “account for 95 percent of all soy beans and 80 percent of all corn grown in the U.S.,” (Associated Press). Although genetically modifying the soy bean crop has made it more readily available and more sustainable, this comes at a high price to farmers. Monsanto continues to raise their prices, which forces farmers to accrue even more debt, and there is no sign of the rise in the seed prices stopping. Since a lot of the farmers are under contract with Monsanto, there is nothing they can do about this unethical policy in fear of losing their job.

To the rhythms of drums and chants, concerned people took the streets of 436 cities across 52 countries on May 25 of last year. The message was clear: smash Monsanto (McDonnell). Despite the fact that Monsanto was voted the most “evil” corporation in 2013(globalresearch.ca), the company still represents the ultimate success of a transnational corporation (TNC) in the modern capitalist economy. Monsanto’s global success is largely due to its ties with the government and supra-national organizations such as the FDA and WTO, which is also why it has become extremely powerful for people to challenge it’s monopoly over food production around the world. By controlling farmers and the seeds that they plant, Monsanto’s vertical integration in agribusiness made it “the world’s second largest agrochemical corporation and the largest seed company (Rees). In addition to its affiliation with governmental organizations, Monsanto frequently has the business acumen to produce the most desirable product in every era since it was first established in the turn of the 20th century. From DDT in the 50s, Agent Orange in the 60s, LED lights in the 70s, to the research and development of biotechnology in the 80s and onwards (McDonnell), Monsanto perennially patented products and dominated the global market. After the 1944 Bretton woods conference,

Everyone wants to eat safe and stay healthy. Nowadays, genetically engineered food is everywhere in the United States. Thanks to Monsanto, a company that produces and develops genetic modified crops, according to “Genetically Engineered Crops” by the Center for Food Safety (CFS), “70 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves - from soda to soup, crackers to condiments – contain genetically engineered ingredients.” Genetically engineered food has deeply rooted in our lives. On the other hand, in other parts of the world, European Union and Russia have been banning any genetically modified food to be produced in their territories. The reason of such difference in terms of policy is because Monsanto has been spending a huge amount of money to tell the Americans that genetic engineered food is totally safe to eat. Other than that, according to “Viral Gene In Genetically Engineered Foods Could Promote Disease” by Dr. Mercola, Monsanto has joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The company is offering Business Ecosystems Training course, which claims to “enhance employees’ awareness and understanding of the links between ecosystems and business.” Should we trust Monsanto?

In society today, agriculture is an essential component that supports the lives of many individuals. Agriculture is able to provide individuals with food and other necessities in order to survive. Although agricultural methods in the past can be associated with sustainability due to farmers working out in the fields as a means for food production, the pressure to obtain economic profit that society began to possess with the introduction of the green revolution allowed for many corporations such as Monsanto to develop and take part in industrial agricultural methods. The Monsanto Corporation is located in St. Louis Missouri and is known as an “American multinational agrochemical and agriculture biotechnology corporation” (“Company History”, N.d). Monsanto was founded in 1901 and began to create herbicides between 1945 and 1976. With the success of the herbicide creations, Monsanto then began to develop plants that contained biotechnology traits known as genetically modified organisms (GMO) or genetically modified (GM) crops (“Company History”, N.d). According to Halford (2003), “ The term genetically modified (GMO) is a relatively new expression that describes a plant that contains a gene or genes that have been introduced artificially. Such plants are also described as being transgenic or having been transformed.”(p. 23). Although these organisms have been around for a considerable amount of time and genetic engineering is used in many places across the globe today, when