Introduction
Many people may not have heard of Monsanto, but it is a company that we, as humans, unknowingly depend on each and every day. “Monsanto is the world’s largest seed company with sales over $15.9 billion” (Ferrell 382). Monsanto is known for its genetically modified (GM) seeds that have the ability to survive drought, fight off weeds, and kill insects (Ferrell 382). “Over 90 percent of the world’s GM seeds are sold by Monsanto or companies that use Monsanto genes” (Ferrell 382). According to a “Vanity Fair” article titled Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear, “Monsanto spends more than $2 million a day in research to identify, test, develop, and bring to market innovative new seeds and technologies that benefit farmers” (Barlett n.p.). This …show more content…
But, for some farmers, that cost can be justified by the amount of revenue that the GM seeds allow them to bring in. With GM seeds, they also reap a multitude of benefits. In a “Forbes” article titled The Planet Versus Monsanto, written by Robert Langreth, it is reported that “Farmers complain about Monsanto’s prices, but they still buy the seed” (Langreth n.p.). Over the years, Monsanto has developed these seeds to be able to grow with little water, to ward off insects, and to protect themselves without needing pesticides. While at first this seems great and profitable, it has been causing some underlying problems. For instance, some farmers like to have the GM crops while other farmers prefer to have non-GM crops. But, through either wind or other natural means, such as bees or other insects, the seeds from the GM crops have been carried to other non-GM crops, which is posing a serious issued. When 2 different seeds mix, it creates environmental contamination by which new genetic variations of these crops are created (Ferrell 386). So, while at first it may seem, to the average Joe, that GM seeds are a good investment, when things like environmental issues start coming into play, costs for repair seem to start spiraling out of hand. Also, mentioned earlier, is the terms and conditions that Monsanto has set forth for its consumers, by which the “at first glance” costs seem to add up …show more content…
Many of these include the aforementioned problem of seeds drifting to other fields and mixing with other seeds causing a new genetic variation. There have also been claims that the herbicide that Monsanto uses in their GM seeds, “Roundup Ready” is harmful to different animals and insects, as well as to humans. Many critics have been blaming Monsanto for the dying-off of honeybees. They claim that the pesticides are not only killing the bad insects, but are adversely affecting the good ones, such as honeybees (Ferrell 386). Although Monsanto has designed seeds to be resistant to pesticides and herbicides, this is creating a problem by which “super weeds” and “super bugs” are coming into existence. Basically, these creatures have developed or evolved from the premise that they have become immune to these pesticides, therefore creating bugs that are very hard to stop or kill. Philip Mattera, author of Monsanto: Corporate Rap Sheet, an article published in “Corporate Research Product” states that “When faced with opposition to its products and policies, Monsanto has not hesitated to enlist high-powered assistance from the federal government” (Mattera
Many people may not have heard of Monsanto, but it is a company that we, as humans, unknowingly depend on each and every day. “Monsanto is the world’s largest seed company with sales over $15.9 billion” (Ferrell 382). Monsanto is known for its genetically modified (GM) seeds that have the ability to survive drought, fight off weeds, and kill insects (Ferrell 382). “Over 90 percent of the world’s GM seeds are sold by Monsanto or companies that use Monsanto genes” (Ferrell 382). According to a “Vanity Fair” article titled Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear, “Monsanto spends more than $2 million a day in research to identify, test, develop, and bring to market innovative new seeds and technologies that benefit farmers” (Barlett n.p.). This …show more content…
But, for some farmers, that cost can be justified by the amount of revenue that the GM seeds allow them to bring in. With GM seeds, they also reap a multitude of benefits. In a “Forbes” article titled The Planet Versus Monsanto, written by Robert Langreth, it is reported that “Farmers complain about Monsanto’s prices, but they still buy the seed” (Langreth n.p.). Over the years, Monsanto has developed these seeds to be able to grow with little water, to ward off insects, and to protect themselves without needing pesticides. While at first this seems great and profitable, it has been causing some underlying problems. For instance, some farmers like to have the GM crops while other farmers prefer to have non-GM crops. But, through either wind or other natural means, such as bees or other insects, the seeds from the GM crops have been carried to other non-GM crops, which is posing a serious issued. When 2 different seeds mix, it creates environmental contamination by which new genetic variations of these crops are created (Ferrell 386). So, while at first it may seem, to the average Joe, that GM seeds are a good investment, when things like environmental issues start coming into play, costs for repair seem to start spiraling out of hand. Also, mentioned earlier, is the terms and conditions that Monsanto has set forth for its consumers, by which the “at first glance” costs seem to add up …show more content…
Many of these include the aforementioned problem of seeds drifting to other fields and mixing with other seeds causing a new genetic variation. There have also been claims that the herbicide that Monsanto uses in their GM seeds, “Roundup Ready” is harmful to different animals and insects, as well as to humans. Many critics have been blaming Monsanto for the dying-off of honeybees. They claim that the pesticides are not only killing the bad insects, but are adversely affecting the good ones, such as honeybees (Ferrell 386). Although Monsanto has designed seeds to be resistant to pesticides and herbicides, this is creating a problem by which “super weeds” and “super bugs” are coming into existence. Basically, these creatures have developed or evolved from the premise that they have become immune to these pesticides, therefore creating bugs that are very hard to stop or kill. Philip Mattera, author of Monsanto: Corporate Rap Sheet, an article published in “Corporate Research Product” states that “When faced with opposition to its products and policies, Monsanto has not hesitated to enlist high-powered assistance from the federal government” (Mattera