As a producer of genetically modified seeds that lead to larger crop yields and eventually larger profits for farmers, Monsanto has a moral obligation to farmers who have grown crops and saved seeds for the next crop for hundreds of years before Monsanto began changing the genetic makeup of the seed. Farmers should not feel obligated to Monsanto as they have manipulated the future of farming through patent protection of intellectual property. Some thoughts should be discussed regarding Monsanto’s position; the comparison of seed manipulation as a form of technology, the use of patent protection, and the bullying of farmers through investigations of farmers reusing seeds from a previous harvest.…
Within Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele’s article “Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear,” the reader receives information on the complicated history and questionable business tactics of the agriculture company Monsanto. Moreover, Barlett and Steele bring to light numerous counts of wrong doing committed by Monsanto by focusing on the legal actions and cases found in state and federal courts. Particular attention is focused on the vast resources and funds that Monsanto utilizes to deter smaller farmers and co-ops from continuing the cases in court, consequently, most of the cases are settled. Also, a great amount of space remains dedicated to a history lesson of the Monsanto company. Therefore, Monsanto has many ligations due to improper chemical…
Interest groups are defined as an “organized group of people that makes policy-related appeals” and they can have a profound effect on our government and society (Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir 419).These groups represent their interests in the political arena in a variety of ways; they can get government officials appointed to government positions, lobby government officials, and fund media to advertise their message to mobilize public opinion and sway voters. Businesses interest groups in particular utilize these strategies, because there is an economic incentive in passing favorable laws and conveying a good image to government and the public. One business interest currently benefiting from their interaction with the Obama administration is Monsanto. Monsanto is a billion dollar company responsible for genetically modified seeds, the chemical Roundup and its associated Roundup ready crops, the toxic chemical substance Agent Orange, bovine growth hormones (rBGH), and the synthetic sugar substitute known as aspartame—to name a few. As a business interest group, it has been a terrific success in using government to push its agenda, much to the dismay of environmental activists, scientists, and concerned citizens who want their government to regulate businesses and protect the public. This paper will examine how business interest groups like Monsanto have been able to further their agenda under the Obama administration through the appointment of employees to federal positions, lobbying, and use of media to mobilize public opinion.…
Being a multinational supplier of genetically modified seeds, Monsanto posses severe economic impacts in the international marketplace. Originally, the Bt Cotton seeds should have produced positive externalities upon the Indian economy, however, the enforcement of the biological patent disables the economy from reaching the potential positive effects. Initially, the purpose of the genetically modified cotton seeds were to substantially increase the production of cotton. Higher crop yields would have resulted in cheaper prices for consumerism, as economies of scale would have taken effect. However, as the revenue generated by farmers cannot cover variable costs, a shut down point will be reached within the industry. Farming revenue is irregular…
What would you do if you knew a company you loved and adored, had horrible and atrocious ethics? Many people don’t realize how many businesses practice poor ethics and get away with unethical behavior. One of the most unethical businesses in the world is Monsanto. Most people would agree that Monsanto has been through hell and back because of their Ethics.…
Vice’s article titled “GMOs Aren’t That Bad but Monsanto is Worse” rhetorically argues that Monsanto, a horrible agricultural-biotechnology corporation, is improper engineering and is pushing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on North America. Vice’s key point is that not only does Monsanto engineer and push unhealthy, hazardous inorganic seeds and foods on consumers, but manipulatively takes advantage of the market. The use of pictures, links to more information, and conversational language is what makes this article convincing and reasonable yet compelling and concerning.…
Ninety percent of GMO crops are designed to be Roundup ready. What that means is farmers can spray Roundup weed killer DIRECTLY onto crops that will be turned into the food that you and your family eat. That’s right. These crops that are turned into food that finds its way to your dinner table, have been genetically modified so that they can be sprayed directly with Roundup poison and survive. The poison is absorbed internally into every cell of the plant. It is then harvested, processed into food, and you eat it. So in other words, you are eating the poisoned plants that have been designed to survive being poisoned. Think about that. Does this sound like a good idea to you?…
Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology Although GMOs have been around for many years, it wasn’t until just recently that people have become more concerned with them. However, many companies that produce genetically modified organisms, like Monsanto, try to make believe that the products they produce are healthy and beneficial for the environment; while that may be true first glance, lots of anti gmo activists believe that these companies scam people into believing false information. In this essay, we will uncover the pros and cons of these genetically modified organisms and ultimately, come to the conclusion that GMOs may have downfalls for humans and the environment, but are economically beneficial.…
This article was written by Valeria Jefferson, a corresponding author for the Journal of Environmental Health, and the president of the National Capital Area Environmental Health Association located in Clinton, Maryland. It provides an in-depth view of the potential benefits and intentions of GMFs, and the rationale behind those who oppose it. This article provides information for the reasons on both sides of the argument, giving me a better understanding of the effects GMOs could have on humanity and the planet, for better or worse.…
Another harmful effect that GMOs have on the environment is that they increase herbicide use, which allows for more toxins to be present. For example, the company Monsanto produces a herbicide known as Roundup, and the company then sells Roundup Ready crops, which are designed to survive the implementation of Roundup (Smith). The overuse of Roundup, however, results in superweeds that are resistant to the herbicide, which causes farmers to use even more toxic herbicides every year (Smith). Genetically modified crops and herbicides have also been linked to the harming of insects, birds, marine ecosystems, amphibians, and soil organisms, by reducing biodiversity and polluting water resources (Smith). Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup has been shown to “cause birth defects in amphibians, embryonic deaths and endocrine disruptions, and organ damage in animals even at very low doses,”…
Canadian Research has shown that pesticides have been found in maternal and fetal blood in women, thus showing that the fetus can be affected by a xenobiotic, a chemical not produced naturally. The genetic make-up from the GMOs can possibly be transferred to human beings, sometimes linked with cancer. New IRT studies display how GMOs are related to gluten disorders in almost 20 million people, causing severe indigestion, bacteria buildup, and allergic reactions. An EU study in 2002 had released the results that say glyphosate has produced birth malfunctions, but in Germany, their results concluded that glyphosate did not produce birth defects. Another study came from the U.S which stated that glyphosate can produce…
Despite the ongoing, major clinical studies being conducted, the government put their greed before the public’s wellbeing, and granted Monsanto permission to plant genetically modified crops and seeds without the interference of the federal government. With the government stripped of their authority of enforcing GMO sales, Monsanto has broken their chains, and now has full control of the public’s food. If GMO’s are found to be harmful to the consumer’s health, because of this bill, the government will not be able stop Monsanto’s production and distribution. (International Business…
In a world where the population is growing at an alarming pace, the agricultural biotech corporation Monsanto and its scientists are now trying to create solutions to feeding the people more abundantly. Many claim that the solution to end famine start and end with speeding up the process of growing food. Nearly 15 percent of United States households struggle to put food on the table and by growing food faster it may decrease this statistic. Genetically modified foods have been researched and put in to practical applications very fast throughout the world. This new technology to alter all things natural has put a monkey wrench in our food supply system. The frontrunners of Big Agriculture Monsanto, DuPont, and Syngenta are strong-minded that world 's populations continue to be ignorant…
In recent history, many people have become wary of the infamous genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are commonly found in many foods and products, from corn to cotton. However, there are a series of documented dangers associated with GMOs and they have caused a divide between those who support GMOs and hope to reassure the consumer that GMO’s are safe, versus those who oppose GMOs and promote the removal of them from their favorite products. Despite strong arguments from both sides, there is extremely sufficient evidence to prove that GMO’s are nothing to be afraid of.…
The most infamous GMO based company is Monsanto. For those who haven’t seen Food Inc. Monsanto is a company that specializes in GMOs and their applications and the patents that insure lots of money. Monsanto forces farmers into their agreements of use and if they should deny and end up using Monsanto’s patented seeds they find themselves with an excessive lawsuit so unreasonable it is impossible for the farmers to have any other option but agree to their terms. Yves Bertheau and John Davison wrote a case study called Genetically Modified and non-Genetically Modified Food Supply Chains examines the interaction between these seeds, “the simulation model presented...permits an analysis of mechanisms for detecting adventitious transfer of GM material…