As Supreme Court Hearing Looms over GM seeds, activists keep fingers crossed
As so many good people here on DU understand, The Large Agri Firms in this nation have been busy patenting seeds, in order to protect some genetic modifications. In some cases, these firms do this, and the original indigenous people who have kept that variety of corn or whatever alive for thousands of years no longer can freely use it! Additionally, each year, firms like Monsanto sue small farms for "seed infringement." It is very hard for the farmer in those cases to win - if they get legal representation and do win, they pretty much owe the farm to their lawyers.
I know from private correspondence with one Indiana seed researcher, the amounts of fusarium, vomitoxin and other molds and fungal growths found on crops as they are harvested has increased exponentially with the introduction of the GM seeds.
Here is a decent article discussing what is going on, both legally and practically, in terms of the GM seeds and the patents that the Big Agri firms now hold:
http://truefoodnow.org/2013/02/12/as-challenge-over-seed-rights-approaches-supreme-court-new-report-exposes-devastating-impact-of-monsanto-practices-on-u-s-farmers/#more-2107
(I urge everyone interested in the issue to read the full piece, but did copy and pate a few segments of the longer article.)
As Challenge over Seed Rights Approaches Supreme Court, New Report Exposes Devastating Impact of Monsanto Practices on U.S. Farmers
Posted on February 12, 2013
Center for Food Safety and Save Our Seeds Investigate Role of Seed Patents in Consolidating Corporate Control of Global Food Safety
While agrichemical corporations also claim that their patented seeds are leading to environmental improvements, the report notes that upward of 26 percent more chemicals per acre were used on GE crops than on non-GE crops, according to USDA data.
(Snip)
Further, in response to an epidemic of weed resistance to glyphosate, the primary herbicide used on GE crops, Dow AgroSciences is seeking USDA approval of “next generation” corn and soybeans resistant to 2,4-D, an active ingredient in Agent Orange. Monsanto is seeking approval for GE dicamba-resistant soybeans, corn, and cotton.
At the launch of the report via teleconference today, experts from the Center for Food Safety and Save our Seeds were joined by Mr. Vernon Hugh Bowman, the 75-year-old Indiana soybean farmer who, next week, will come up against Monsanto in the Supreme Court Case. When asked about the numerous comparisons being drawn between his case and the story of David and Goliath, Mr. Bowman responded, “I really don’t consider it as David and Goliath. I don’t think of it in those terms. I think of it in terms of right and wrong.”
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