Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Monsanto Seed Business Role Revealed in the US Mainstream Media. Any Thoughts?

I saw this article yesterday on Monsanto and wondered what everyone thought of the issues.

Joe

AP INVESTIGATION: Monsanto seed biz role revealed
By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD (AP) – 1 day ago

ST. LOUIS — Confidential contracts detailing Monsanto Co.'s business practices reveal how the world's biggest seed developer is squeezing competitors, controlling smaller seed companies and protecting its dominance over the multibillion-dollar market for genetically altered crops, an Associated Press investigation has found.

With Monsanto's patented genes being inserted into roughly 95 percent of all soybeans and 80 percent of all corn grown in the U.S., the company also is using its wide reach to control the ability of new biotech firms to get wide distribution for their products, according to a review of several Monsanto licensing agreements and dozens of interviews with seed industry participants, agriculture and legal experts.

Declining competition in the seed business could lead to price hikes that ripple out to every family's dinner table. That's because the corn flakes you had for breakfast, soda you drank at lunch and beef stew you ate for dinner likely were produced from crops grown with Monsanto's patented genes.

Monsanto's methods are spelled out in a series of confidential commercial licensing agreements obtained by the AP. The contracts, as long as 30 pages, include basic terms for the selling of engineered crops resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, along with shorter supplementary agreements that address new Monsanto traits or other contract amendments.

The company has used the agreements to spread its technology — giving some 200 smaller companies the right to insert Monsanto's genes in their separate strains of corn and soybean plants. But, the AP found, access to Monsanto's genes comes at a cost, and with plenty of strings attached.

For example, one contract provision bans independent companies from breeding plants that contain both Monsanto's genes and the genes of any of its competitors, unless Monsanto gives prior written permission — giving Monsanto the ability to effectively lock out competitors from inserting their patented traits into the vast share of U.S. crops that already contain Monsanto's genes.

To Read the Rest of the Article - Click Here.

Views: 353

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Forbes names Monsanto Company of the Year

Read the article at http://ca.mg202.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.partner=rogers-acs&.g...

The Planet Versus Monsanto
Robert Langreth and Matthew Herper, 12.31.09, 04:40 PM EST
Forbes Magazine dated January 18, 2010
Monsanto's first round of attackers said its seeds were evil. Now the charge is that Monsanto's seeds are too good.
Not a big fan of Monsanto but the research they are doing has really helped push up our corn yields....
They do what any well respected multi national company does they sue you. Court injunkions not allowing you to plant your seed, until you go bankrupt, and can't afford to take legal action. They are now moving in on the Animal trade with pigs. Some of their gm food for pigs are making pigs infertile in the US. I watched a docrementary on the company and their practices very evil what I saw.

Pat stocking said:
Can someone please explain to me how Monsanto corp. are able to sue farmers that have planted non Monsanto seed brands that have been pollinated by a neighbors round up ready Monsanto bean, the pollen carries the gene that shows in the bean. why can't the farmer sue Monsanto for contaminating his crop?
They own you now. See what happens when you change brands, they can come on your property to see if you have any residual traces of their genes in your crop.

Roadrunner said:
Not a big fan of Monsanto but the research they are doing has really helped push up our corn yields....

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Key market movers to watch include hogs and dairy

Key reports that farmers should watch which could have significant impacts on commodity markets the week of March 23, 2025.

NOAA Spring Forecast: Dry for Southern Plains, Western US

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s spring forecast looks dry for the western Corn Belt and the US southern Plains, where more moisture is needed. Released Thursday, the forecast for temperature, precipitation, drought, and flooding for the coming months indicates that drought development is likely across the central and southern Plains, where much of the American Hard Red Winter crop is grown (see map below). Meanwhile, much of the western U.S. is favoured to receive below-average precipitation, with drought expected to persist across much of North Dakota and Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, along with the northwestern corner of Iowa. That may speed planting could impact early crop development. In contrast, above normal precipitation is forecast in the Great Lakes region, which could slow spring planting Above-average spring temperatures are also likely across much of the US, including locations that experienced colder-than-average temperatures and unu

WCI Welcomes David Hoekstra as its Interim Executive Director

Western Crop Innovations (WCI) has announced the appointment of David Hoekstra as its interim executive director. Hoekstra brings extensive leadership experience in agricultural research, business development, and strategic advisory roles. Hoekstra previously held leadership positions at Big Marble Farms, first as general manager and later as vice president of business development. He also brings experience as finance chair and director at the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada. Additionally, he has played a key role in advancing agricultural innovation as a former director at Results-Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). “We are very fortunate to have Mr. David Hoekstra join us at WCI as our interim executive director. With his corporate experience in business strategy and record of success in building relationships and managing facilities, it was an easy decision for our board to secure his services,” said Jason Lenz, interim board chair. “In the near term, David will lead efforts

EU Tariffs on U.S. Grain will have no Impact Short-Term

How will European tariffs on corn and soybeans impact U.S. grain demand?

Grape and wine cluster research to be shared April 17

Hosted in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN-RCCV), and the British Columbia Wine Grape Council (BCWGC), this national meeting will showcase the final results of AAFC's research conducted under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Grape and Wine Science Cluster (2018-2023).

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service