The cleaning, storing, and collection of seeds could become a thing of the past according to the Organic Consumers Association. Apparently, Monsanto has been attempting to corner the market on seed sources and patenting everything it can get its hands on. They aren't the only big agriculture company to do so. Basically it goes like this. Farmers sign an agreement to plant Monsanto seeds, the Genetically Modified seeds have pesticides in them. Just before the plants mature, the seeds are triggered to become impotent, therefore farmers must buy seeds every year.
Not only that, they have been suing farmers even if something happens to blow in their crops and alters the original seeds. This is a problem for me as I collect seeds myself. This is way too complicated and unfortunately the word is that there are a lot of senators in the back pockets of these companies. Although we need to protect our food supply, I cannot believe that this topic has not been addressed and studied more thoroughly.
Is it right that the a former Monsanto big wig should be running the USDA? I have a real problem with that. The USDA is not the place for a former Monsanto employee. Only an organic farmer is going to make sure that the pesticides and GM food is not going to be promoted by the USDA. I was hoping for an email address for Michelle, as I know she is also a home gardener?
I have written to my congressman, senators, and governor, and they share the same concerns. Some states are already under the spell of Monsanto, luckily my state is not as of yet.
My say: Make it illegal for private entities to collect, monitor, harass, intimidate, or monopolize on any and all food distribution techniques. Monsanto and others should be monitored and be accountable for these practices, and for their attempts to deny people from quality GM-free seed sources. The USDA needs to find out if there is a way to protect our food sources by distributing organic seeds. The Food Modernization Act of 2009, needs to be carefully written to address these issues.
Comments (8)
Does anyone like the idea of Obama White House Heirloom seeds?
See:
Anti-Trust Law For the Food Industry?
http://civileats.com/2009/05/21/bust-up-the-agribusiness-trusts/
44. Vote NO to H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 – The penchant of congress to give bills glorified names is astonishing. This bill is another example of such miss labeling. The March 16th, 2009, version of this bill was very broadly defined. The definition of farmer could affect everyone in this country that grows produce for sale or even back yard gardens. This bill would mandate federally approved fertilizer, food additives, and herbicides. This bill was introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT] who is married to a former Monsanto representative. Whether this bill was written by Monsanto, is anyone’s guess. This bill places very stiff penalties to anyone who goes against this law, up to and including one million dollar fine, even to first offenders. Essentially, this bill is anti-organic legislation that must be voted down. It requires farms to tag each produce item as to when it was harvested and by whom.
• The driving ideal of this bill is to introduce food protection legislation, but most of the food problems that our nation has faced were originated not at the producer level but at the processing level. Food processing businesses under the sponsorship of Bush’s initiative of self regulation, has found it is cost effective to cut corners on food safety. Legislation to enforce food safety should be focused on the food processers and not the food producers.
Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields.
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/science/failure-to-yield.html
FAQs: Seed Contamination
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/faqs-seed-contamination.html
His birth b/c is not available online as you say it is. You better check you facts Mr.
Mercenary armies are useful for protection :)
The travelling Farmers Bureau of Investigation :)