RE: [pf] Risks, imposed or chosen

by David A

18 December 2000 17:24 UTC

Vicki Madden wrote:
> Yes, so we want to "help" them by selling them seeds that have 
> been altered to be self-terminating, so that they have to come back > to 
> the corporation every year and buy more. Seed-saving has been 
> an integral part of agriculture, but Monsanto wants to change that.
 
This has been going on with hybrid seeds for about a hundred years.

Furthermore, no farmer is prevented from saving their own seeds and 
reusing them the next year if they wish.

Farmers often buy fresh seed anyway, and find it cost effective to do 
so, because they get increased yields and better seeds.

The UN and the Food and Agriculture Organization agree that Terminator 
poses no threat to farmers.

Finally, Monsanto has decided not to commercialize sterile seed 
technology:
http://www.rockfound.org/news/100499_terminator_pr.html