"This is why we haven't had political debate over the radical change to our food system." ~ Michael Pollan
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority of opinion in a case that allowed these companies to prevent farmers from saving their own seed. (see J.E.M. AG SUPPLY, INC dba FARM ADVANTAGE, INC. et. al. c. PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC)
10,000 years ago farmers would save their seeds and plant again in the following year. That's how seeds were developed and that's how corn was developed. It was a useless grass for the most part and ended up being an extremely productive plant it is today.
The idea that any corporation can own a food crop is a very new idea. And it wasn't until the 1980s that the Supreme Court said you can patent life.
Monsanto is a chemical company, the produced DDT, Agent Orange in Vietnam and then developed a product called Roundup. Genetically-engineered soybeans can resist the application of Roundup. When Roundup is sprayed over the top of it, it killed every seed out there except for their Roundup Ready soybean.
In 1996, when Monsanto Roundup Ready soybeans, only 2% of soybeans in the U.S. contained their patent gene. By 2008, over 90% of soybeans in he U.S. contained Monsanto's patented gene. Which means now a farmer who uses Roundup Ready soybeans cannot save their seeds for the following year and if they do - they'll get a call from Monsanto. Anyone caught saving seeds can be investigated for patent infringement.
*Monsanto has a staff of 75 devoted to investigating and prosecuting farmers
*Center for Food Safety
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