Case 1: “Monsanto Attempts to Balance Stakeholder Interests”
Case 1: “Monsanto Attempts to Balance Stakeholder Interests”
Dr. Obradovich
Monsanto is one of the world’s largest industrial agriculture businesses, especially focusing on genetically modified products. The company specializes in biotechnology, modifying crops and genetic manipulation of organisms. These modifications help farmers by using less land and creating more crops, which equals more profits. Genertitically modified (GM) food also helps create solutions to world hunger problems and is a rapidly growing product for famers. GM products have stirred up controversy everywhere they are distributed, and Monsanto, being a huge multinational corporation and a major producer, is at the center of the debate. Throughout the company’s history, Monsanto has been attacked with criticisms from governments, farmers and activists groups because of their controversial products. This case deals with the ethical implications of producing and selling a product without understanding the environmental and physical implications of the products. Monsanto claims that its products are safe, and the FDA has proclaimed that GM food is safe to consume but critics are not convinced and continue to try and stop the use of GM products. Monsanto has showed a clear disregard for ethical obligations in its history and continues to downplay the importance of environmental and physical risks to the consumer. Although Monsanto has claimed to realize the errors of its ways and has made a conscious effort for greater corporate responsibility in the future, the company is simply saying these things to avoid further criticism.
Efficacy of Monsanto’s Ethical Culture Monsanto has made a stride in terms of corporate responsibility, but it does not maintain the most ethical culture possible. Monsanto is in a difficult position, because the products it produces are highly specialized and therefore most consumers do not understand them. Throughout Monsanto’s
Dr. Obradovich
Monsanto is one of the world’s largest industrial agriculture businesses, especially focusing on genetically modified products. The company specializes in biotechnology, modifying crops and genetic manipulation of organisms. These modifications help farmers by using less land and creating more crops, which equals more profits. Genertitically modified (GM) food also helps create solutions to world hunger problems and is a rapidly growing product for famers. GM products have stirred up controversy everywhere they are distributed, and Monsanto, being a huge multinational corporation and a major producer, is at the center of the debate. Throughout the company’s history, Monsanto has been attacked with criticisms from governments, farmers and activists groups because of their controversial products. This case deals with the ethical implications of producing and selling a product without understanding the environmental and physical implications of the products. Monsanto claims that its products are safe, and the FDA has proclaimed that GM food is safe to consume but critics are not convinced and continue to try and stop the use of GM products. Monsanto has showed a clear disregard for ethical obligations in its history and continues to downplay the importance of environmental and physical risks to the consumer. Although Monsanto has claimed to realize the errors of its ways and has made a conscious effort for greater corporate responsibility in the future, the company is simply saying these things to avoid further criticism.
Efficacy of Monsanto’s Ethical Culture Monsanto has made a stride in terms of corporate responsibility, but it does not maintain the most ethical culture possible. Monsanto is in a difficult position, because the products it produces are highly specialized and therefore most consumers do not understand them. Throughout Monsanto’s