One choice for seeds: Monsanto

[Liberal_in_LA]

Rising food prices may start with seeds
Farmers say consolidation in the industry means they're forced to buy more costly seeds. But Monsanto, the world's largest seed firm, says competition 'is alive and flourishing.'


For 40 years, farmer Todd Leake and his family have battled bitter cold, hungry pests and a short growing season to coax soybeans out of their fields in eastern North Dakota.

The one thing they never had to fight for, though, was their seeds.

A decade ago, salesmen from as many as 50 seed companies would compete for their dollars. Each would promise healthier plants, richer yields or a better discount.

Today the Leakes have little choice: There are four seed companies in their area, and all sell seeds that include genetic traits patented and licensed by Monsanto Co., the world's largest seed firm.

"There's basically nothing else available," said Leake, 48. "You have to use their seeds and pay their prices."

The concerns of farmers such as Leake will take center stage in Ankeny, Iowa, on Friday as the Justice Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture kick off the first of a yearlong series of public meetings to examine whether antitrust practices in agriculture are driving food prices higher

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-food-monopoly12-2010mar12,0,6585894.story

[Overseas]

1. K&R. Monsanto has far too much power over our food supply.

They've patented lots of their seeds and apparently when they blow into another farmer's field and contaminates their crops, Monsanto sues them for patent infringement.

I'm afraid the issues may have been too technical for us to monitor and control, and Monsanto has probably provided lots of "support for congressional campaigns."

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. There are four seed companies that sell monsanto seeds...

but do they not also sell seeds that are not monsanto seeds?

[Gormy Cuss]

12. Monsanto licenses its genetic traits to many smaller co, so the answer is not likely for some crops.

Even Monsanto admits that 9 out of every 10 acres of soybeans in this country contain Monsanto patented genes. The "competition" is all about whose brand name is appears on the label.

see:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/14/business/main5978152.shtml for the AP investigative report

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.
(snip)

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.
(snip)

"We now believe that Monsanto has control over as much as 90 percent of (seed genetics). This level of control is almost unbelievable," said Neil Harl, agricultural economist at Iowa State University who has studied the seed industry for decades. "The upshot of that is that it's tightening Monsanto's control, and makes it possible for them to increase their prices long term. And we've seen this happening the last five years, and the end is not in sight."

and monsanto's response here:
http://www.monsanto.com/monsanto_today/for_the_record/ap_competition_story_response.asp

The comments of Neil Harl, which suggest that Monsanto controls 90 percent of seed genetics, don’t reflect reality. Monsanto does not control nor supply the underlying seed genetics at anywhere near this level. In fact, Pioneer Hi-Bred holds the leading position in the U.S. soybean industry with about one quarter of the seed market. In corn, Monsanto’s brands are slightly larger than Pioneer with each of us supporting about one-third of the seed market. Beyond these brands, hundreds of companies sell corn and soybean seed genetics in the United States. Today, some of our traits are widely used, including the Roundup Ready® soybean technology currently planted on 9 out of 10 soybean acres, only because we licensed the technology to hundreds of seed companies, including our major competitors, and no one has offered a better product to these seed companies or to growers.

So Monsanto's patented genes are in 90% of soybeans planted in the U.S., according to Monsanto, but because many companies have licensing agreements with Monsanto the latter claims they don't *control* 90% of the market. Got it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. That's not answering my question.

Are their non-GM, non-Monsanto seeds available for the farmers that want to buy them?

If Coca-cola controls 90% of the soda sales, that doesn't mean I can't buy Shasta if I want to.

[Gormy Cuss]

14. I know it's not answering your question, but the articles provide more insight on that issue.

According to the AP report, the licensing agreements essentially discourage the sale of product without Monsanto genes.
(I inadvertently posted under your post -- I meant it as a stand alone reply.)

Your question can only be answered by knowing the names of the four seed companies referenced and asking them.

[Juneboarder]

27. Here is a list...

http://attra.ncat.org/sorg/seeds.html

This comes from the Southern Organic Resouce Guide. They are not sold at multiples of locations; most of the time you must plan ahead and order from them and have the seeds shipped to you.

[Juneboarder]

15. Monsanto

This company has infiltrated our agriculture industry. Most all seeds you find are poisened by Monsanto and should not be consumed (that is, if you believe in eating non-GMO foods).
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

You must truly find certain seeds from organic, natural companies that refuse to work with Monsanto.
http://www.savingourseeds.org/index.html

Canada has gone as far as storing their non-GMO seeds in special seed banks (http://www.seedsanctuary.com/) to help preserve our fruits and vegetables in their natural state.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. Yeah, I'm interested in real answers.

Not the sort of woo woo shit in your links.

[Trillo]

23. You mean "woo woo shit"

like the lack of accurate package labeling, such as "contains GMO" versus "contains no GMO"?

The last consumer size seed packages I bought (couple years ago) made no such statement either containing or not containing GMO. That's "woo woo", like in "ghost"! Maybe it's also "woo woo shit".

[Juneboarder]

26. If it doesn't specify

then I can guaranty you it has GMOs. You have to research who is truly non-GMO as it's not widespread.

[Juneboarder]

25. Are you kidding me?

Do you not realize this to be a problem? Don't criticise my links; rather post your own links that debunk.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. Your links are shit.

It's not research, it's disinformation.

The kind of shit kooked up by people who are afraid of genetic engineering and have 8th grade science educations.

[Juneboarder]

42. I smell a freeper

unless you can provide links to back what you say up, my friend :)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

43. Why should I debunk bullshit every single time it comes up?

Especially if you're going to call me a freeper?

Hell, one of this person's claims got debunked before you even showed up.

[Juneboarder]

45. LOL Why a FREEPER?

Because you cannot back up what you say. You talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk.

[Juneboarder]

29. PS

Answers = Opinions

Links = Research

[HeresyLives]

30. That's not 'Canada', that's a private group.

[Juneboarder]

31. Sorry...

Canadians.

People everywhere are storing seeds in the natural state.

[arcane1]

3. And who did we put in charge of the Dept of Agriculture..?

I don't exactly have high hopes for this year-long series of public meetings

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Tom Vilsack.

Former governor from Iowa.

:shrug:

[arcane1]

7. Exactly n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. You make it sound like that's bad.

[arcane1]

10. Considering his love for Monsanto and agribiz in general...

I don't really see it as good.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. You mean business dealings with the largest Ag business...

as governor of one of the largest agricultural states in the union?

Quelle horreur.

:crazy:

[Gman2]

5. I see famine, thirst and pestilence here soon.

[Uncle Joe]

24. The Irish Potato famine came to mind, when I read this article.

[Blue Owl]

6. Nature is in the corporate chokehold

What a sense of entitlement they have over there at Monsanto.

Talk about a God complex.

[SpiralHawk]

9. It's a republicon state of mind -- Mutant Monsatanism

[Desertrose]

20. Sadly its more than just a "republicon state of mind".....

There are many more at blame here for the power of corporations. (Not that I am defending repubs, cause I'm not.)


:loveya: SH

[Greyhound]

38. No, it's a corporatist mindset. We've got almost as many here as in the republik party. n/t

[glinda]

41. Don't forget the ethoxoquin that they put in almost all pet food. Cancer.

[RedEarth]

16. Watch the movie Food Inc and see how much power Monsanto

has over the entire food chain.....truly frightening.

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. saw it recently... I had no idea. Frightening.

[Echo In Light]

22. From the doc film, The Corporation: Monsanto kills Fox News story of their BGH hormones in your milk

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread469894/pg1

http://vodpod.com/watch/591891-fox-news-kills-monsanto-milk-story

[earth mom]

18. Monsanto is the devil!!!

Time for a Heirloom Seed Revolution: http://www.greenpeople.org/seeds.htm

[upi402]

21. (bookmarked thanks) the film Food Inc

was great but I can't find it on you tube ?

[earth mom]

47. Embarrassed to say that I haven't seen Food Inc yet, but it is on my Netflix queue.

:blush:

[Juneboarder]

28. Couldn't agree with you more!

I can tell the difference between my garden and the plants that you can buy at a store like Home Depot, Lowes, WalMart, Target, etc...

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. That website must drive Monsanto crazy!

[earth mom]

46. Doncha just love it?

:evilgrin:

[Lorien]

35. Also check out the documentary "The Future of Food" on Hulu

Monsanto's goal is simple: to patent and own every life form on earth.

[Shallah Kali]

39. link to The Future of Food on Hulu

http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food

[earth mom]

48. Thanks for the heads up, I haven't see that film yet either.

:hi:

[Lorien]

36. Thanks for the link!

One of those organizations is right in my neighborhood, and I didn't know about it!

[hunter]

33. Monsanto can go to hell.

Human Beings are not "Roundup Ready®"

This kind of agriculture is as bad as open air nuclear testing was. There's a rain of poison falling out of the sky and in our food causing birth defects and cancer. It's made by Monsanto.

[Gin]

34. I watched FOOD INC yesterday and Monsanto sends out spies

if they think a farmer is saving his seeds or not using theirs..

the seed mafia

[Greyhound]

40. K&R for corporate/social insanity!

[formercia]

44. I didn't order any seeds this Year.

Finally got to the point where I have sufficient seeds saved from open-pollinated varieties, that I don't need to buy any. The varieties may not be as pretty as the hybrids, but they taste just as good if not better. People who shop in supermarkets want perfect produce, but there's a cost involved.

[mbperrin]

49. Gosh, what could go wrong with making it illegal to store your own seeds

from your own crops in your own fields?

Surely we can trust the good folks at Monsanto to provide us with the seeds to plant every crop we'll ever need! Can't we?

After all, they provided us with Agent Orange and PCBs and that turned out well, right?














If I need a sarcasm tag, check your IQ and then get back.