The World 's Largest Seed Company

| Monsanto continues to grow with future acquisitions of other companies in the industry (i.e. Asgrow Agronomics, Holden’s Foundation Seeds, Corn States Hybrid Service, and DeKalb Genetics Corp.).- Monsanto expands its production of genetically modified seed products which are herbicide tolerant. These include, “Roundup Ready Canola,” “Roundup Ready Cotton,” and “Roundup Ready Corn.”- Monsanto is also the first company to introduce a dual genetically engineered seed with protection from both insects and herbicides (cotton and corn seeds).

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

The film discusses Monsanto, a large multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation, at length. The film mentions Roundup, a product produced by Monsanto, but doesn’t go into detail about the effect Roundup has on human health. “We started to hear rumblings about genetically engineered soybeans that could resist the application of Roundup, and when Roundup is sprayed over the top of it, it killed every weed out there except for this ‘Roundup ready’ soybean.” says a farmer that was interviewed for the film. The film continues to go in depth regarding how Roundup contaminates other farmer’s seeds and how Monsanto then sues the farmers for “stealing”, but the film never discusses the truly terrifying health problem GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) can produce. Alexis Baden-Mayer, a woman who is a part of the Organic Consumers Association, said in an article for ecowatch.com that Roundup can create dozens of serious health problems. The health problems include ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, Anencephaly, Autism, birth defects, brain cancer, breast cancer, celiac disease, chronic kidney disease, Colitis, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and many more. Focused too much on the politics of Monsanto, the film failed to explain the true concern involved with Monsanto’s

Most farms in the U.S. are controlled by Monsanto and other GMO companies. If they are controlled by Monsanto they are strictly supervised. They have no freedom to farm as they please because they can get sued by Monsanto. A farmer using Monsanto seeds signs a "Technology Agreement"

Primarily, genetically engineered crops result in countless long-term, detrimental impacts on the environment. As the United States becomes increasingly dependent on such crops for a majority of its food supply, these harmful environmental impacts are becoming evident. Many GMO crops are modified to be herbicide-resistant, such as the Roundup Ready crop, which allows farmers to spray herbicides without causing damage to the plants. While the ridding of weeds increases the level of production for these farmers, their total elimination greatly interferes with the natural interdependency of the ecosystem. One impacted species includes the Monarch butterfly, as its population decline has been directly linked to the use of genetically engineered crops. The weeds being eliminated include the

However, the use of the GM seeds for food production can quickly render a harmful impact to the user. Lee & Burrell (2002) stated, “Intense concerns about the uncertain health and environmental of GM farming have been the subject of high profile debate. The effects of GM farming on existing forms of agriculture, raised by the prospect of cross-pollination by GM seed, provoke similarly polarized views” It is common that genetic engineering process often takes place by joining different genes of plants together to come up with a whole species of the plant. Unfortunately, this process can easily result in coming up with plants with genes that are harmful to the consumers. Most of the genetically modified food staffs can

“A scientific study published last year concluded that eating genetically modified corn (GM corn) and consuming trace levels of Monsanto’s Roundup chemical fertilizer was linked with rats developing shockingly large tumors, widespread organ damage, and premature death” (Adams). This study was published in 2012 and is also criticized by corporate GMO trolls who argued that scientists should not show pictures of rats with large cancer tumors caused by GMOs because the pictures scare consumers into being afraid of GMOs. Roundup is a chemical fertilizer that is produced by Monsanto and the reason why it is harmful is because Monsanto adds pesticides in their chemical fertilizer to keep their crops from being eaten by insects. The evidence provided earlier is significant because the pesticides are a hazard that

Often times farmers will purchase genetically modified seeds. There are many different ways in which farmers are able to receive seeds. In conventional farming, farmers would seeds from year to year so they would never run out. In genetically modified farming, farmers are not allowed to save the patented seeds from year to year. According to Harris, 40 percent of the world's commercial seed trade is owned by just ten companies. One genetically modified seed company that typically stands out is Monsanto. To begin with, Monsanto was involved in industrial chemicals. Today, Monsanto is the leading producer in genetically modified seeds and also its patent Roundup

Monsanto the first company to make GMOs using biotechnology has several patents that give them ownership of using processes to insert one organisms genes into crop seeds to change them to have certain desired traits

Monsanto’s Monopoly Over Genetically Modified Crops Monopolies are established in certain industries when one firm controls the market of a product that cannot be differentiated. In today’s economy, monopolies can be found in various industries, including within the seed industry. Monsanto is an agricultural giant that creates genetically modified seeds and crop protection products (Monsanto Company, 2017a). Though Monsanto is not the only firm in the seed industry, it is a monopoly in the genetically modified seed and crop protection industry. Monsanto is the leading firm in GMO foods and crops because of their many patents on their products and technology.

Financial- Monsanto Company generated $13.5 billion in sales and $1.7 billion in free cash flow in 2016 (Monsanto Company, 2017). According to Ferrell, Thorne, and Ferrell (2016), Monsanto is the dominate player in the seed manufacturing space. For instance, through acquisitions and patents, Monsanto controls 90% percent of global seed distribution. As the global leader in the seed industry, Monsanto’s financial performance will increase in a world with a growing population and agricultural need.

Most public concern has been focused on human health and safety regarding the use and consumption of these foods, but potential environmental impacts are important to consider as well. Many varieties of genetically engineered crops are intended to decrease the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers, but the scope of environmental impacts does not stop at chemical usage. Common concerns about GM crops include the effects of cross-pollination, so-called “genetic contamination,” and the escape of GM crops from cultivation and their interactions with native species. Conversely, the environmental benefits of GM crops range from reducing dependence on chemical pesticides to the ability to treat polluted soils with bioremediating plants (Ford, 2004).

80% of all crops and produce that are consumed in the United States are genetically modified. Genetically Modified Foods are plants or animals that have undergone a process wherein scientists alter their genes with DNA from different species of living organisms, bacteria, or viruses to get desired traits such as resistance to disease or tolerance of pesticides. It is my intention to show the negative side effects of GMO products; which explains why so many people are becoming increasingly concerned about consuming GMO products.

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,

Today’s genetically modified foods are made to resist pest or disease that comes in contact with the plant making them more tolerant to not being spoiled. The US department of agriculture made a guess that almost ninety percent of the US soybeans, sugar beets, and corn are part of the genetically modified foods category. The food ingredients made from these crops are corn syrup, soy lecithin, and corn starch which are found in sodas, packaged foods, and cereals. Monsanto happens to controls the genetically modified corn market and genetically modified soy in the United States market. Forty percent of the country crops were planted with Monsanto 's genetically engineered plants in 2013