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A Genetically
Modified Future in the
Corporate World
Source: www.vegsource.com
What was the goal of our
research?
What are the risks of GM crops?
What are the controversies
surrounding Monsanto’s business
practices?
What are the benefits and
positive changes of Monsanto’s
products and technology?
Research Goals
• Media Coverage
• Surrounding
Controversies
• Benefits of the
Technology
• Possible Risks
• The Business Aspects
Source: www.monsanto.com
Possible Risks of GM Crops
• Argument: Science is
intolerable interference
with ‘natural’ order.
• Rise of the superweeds
• Herbicide resistance
• Human health hazards
Source: www.deh.gov.au
Risks Continued
GM Field Trial: Corn
Sources
Top: plus.maths.org
Bottom: www.inuvia.com
• Increase Pesticide
usage
• Patents
• Lack of Biodiversity
• Terminator
Technology
• Benefits the
Corporation more
Controversies Surrounding
Monsanto
•The Indonesian Government Controversy
•1997-2002
•Monsanto bribed $700,000 in US dollars 140 Indonesian government Officials
to remove the requirements for an environmental risk assessment for their Bt
cotton.
•Despite protest and the stinging bands from farmers of the Bt Cotton, Monsanto
wanted to get a secure position in the production of Bt Cotton
•Monsanto was fined$1.5 Million US dollars by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission in January 2005 for violation the Foreign Corruption Act.
•Indian Controversy
•Farmers bought and used hybrid seeds of Maize from Monsanto in hope of a
good yield.
•The farmers lost everything; Monsanto is being blamed.
•The State Government however claims it is the cold weather and nature, which
prevented the growth of the seeds.
•The solution: An Indian panel recommends that the company should send test
under local conditions and only after the approval by an authorized body should
the company be able to sell their product.
Controversies Surrounding
Monsanto
•Monsanto Sues Farmer
•1998: Percy Schmeiser had saved canola seeds from a 1997 crop and planted the
seeds.
•Monsanto claimed that the seeds had gene traits from the patented Roundup Variety,
which was immune to certain pesticides.
•five to four court decision in favor of Monsanto. Monsanto had the right over seeds
accidentally contaminated by neighboring fields.
•A gene can be patented. Monsanto can own any plant, which contains the patented gene.
If a crop becomes contaminated with that gene, Monsanto then owns every plant in that
crop, no matter, who planted it.
•Monsanto Vs. The Milkman
•Monsanto is suing the family owned dairy, Oakhurst, because they label their milk as
recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) free.
•rBGH increases the cows output of milk by a gallon a day
•Monsanto is the only user of the hormone
•The law suite on the basis of “deceptive” and “misleading” marketing.
•Monsanto feels hat the labels may cause consumers to question the safety of the drug, even
though the FDA has found the milk to be the same as regular milk and has no health risks.
•Oakhurst feels that it is their right of speech to tell the public that their milk is free of the drug
•Many farmer and consumers support Oakhurst, causing them to not back down from the
case, like so many other companies had in the past.
Strides in Biotechnology
• 8.25 million framers- 90%
in developing countrieschoose to plant biotech
crops
• 63 countries are
conducting plant biotech
research across 57
different countries
• Farmers growing biotech
crops increased their
income by $27 billion
Stats on the Environment
• 1.8 billion liters of diesel fuel saved from reduced tillage
• 10 million metric tons greenhouse gas emissions
eliminated by reduced tillage
• pesticide applications reduced by 172,000 metric tons
Any solutions?
Suggestions?
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More Research!
Labeling issues
Terminator crops
Training of other
counties
(Spread technology)