Are Engineered Foods Evil? By David H. Freedman
In his essay Are Engineered Foods Evil?, David H. Freedman sites a fact from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization which states “that the world will have to grow 70 percent more food by 2050 just to keep up with population growth.” (632) Due to this fact genetically modified organisms and crops will need to become widely adopted in order to feed the growing population of the world. “GM (genetically modified) crops…could produce higher yields, grow in dry and salty land, withstand high and low temperatures, and tolerate insects, disease, and herbicides.” (Freedman, 632) Genetically modified crops have been around for centuries, however they have not been modified in the sense that they are today. Selective breeding is the oldest
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In the 1980’s the supreme court ruled that life could be patented. Monsanto is one of the largest producers of seeds in the world. However, they started as a chemical company and eventually produced the household product known as Roundup. Roundup was a revolutionary product that has the ability to kill weeds, grass, and pretty much any other unwanted plant. The downside of roundup is that it must be applied with pinpoint accuracy in order not to harm crops. Monsanto did lots of research and eventually patented the Roundup Ready Soybean. These soybeans are essentially the same as normal soybeans but are resistant to the chemical in Roundup that kills plants due to a specific gene implemented by Monsanto. This allows farmers to spray their entire fields with Roundup without destroying the soybeans which they rely on. “In 1996, when Monsanto began selling Roundup Ready soybeans, only 2% of soybeans in the U.S. contained their patented gene. (But) (b)y 2008, over 90% of soybeans in the U.S. contained Monsanto’s patented gene.” (Food Inc.) Monsanto essentially has a monopoly on the soybean market, but they do not allow farmers to save seed from year to year. Monsanto has teams of investigators that search for farmers saving seeds, when the find them the bring lawsuits on the farmers and often end up seizing their farms and their livelihood. Monsanto
In the 1980’s the supreme court ruled that life could be patented. Monsanto is one of the largest producers of seeds in the world. However, they started as a chemical company and eventually produced the household product known as Roundup. Roundup was a revolutionary product that has the ability to kill weeds, grass, and pretty much any other unwanted plant. The downside of roundup is that it must be applied with pinpoint accuracy in order not to harm crops. Monsanto did lots of research and eventually patented the Roundup Ready Soybean. These soybeans are essentially the same as normal soybeans but are resistant to the chemical in Roundup that kills plants due to a specific gene implemented by Monsanto. This allows farmers to spray their entire fields with Roundup without destroying the soybeans which they rely on. “In 1996, when Monsanto began selling Roundup Ready soybeans, only 2% of soybeans in the U.S. contained their patented gene. (But) (b)y 2008, over 90% of soybeans in the U.S. contained Monsanto’s patented gene.” (Food Inc.) Monsanto essentially has a monopoly on the soybean market, but they do not allow farmers to save seed from year to year. Monsanto has teams of investigators that search for farmers saving seeds, when the find them the bring lawsuits on the farmers and often end up seizing their farms and their livelihood. Monsanto