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Biotech Giant Monsanto's Licensing Contracts Spread Seeds of Fear in Farming Communities

Without farmers to buy Monsanto's genetically engineered seeds, which business would they be in? Besides the booming housing market, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, Disneyland and other well-known entertainment centers, California is known as the food basket of the nation. Nowhere is this new name true than the San Joaquin Valley stretching from Stockton to Bakersfield. In this part of the Golden state, agriculture is king. It dominates over everything else. From Fresno county, Madera county to Tulare King, we all have known to appreciate the contributions of the "King of cotton," J.D. Boswell.

More and more farmers from the Central Valley are using Monsanto's products. The wrath of the company will reach them through its investigative teams if they violate its licensing contracts. The company claims to launch them after big violators who buy seeds, grow their crops and re-use them for subsequent years without paying fees. Since times immemorial, farmers have saved seeds. If they do it now with Monsanto's seeds, they'll be in big trouble. Many violators who get caught work things out with the company even if they have to pay a fine. Others end up being dragged into court where they lose and have to pay exorbitant fees. Other farmers claim they did not read the company's licensing technology agreements well enough. Through tips and leads, the company investigates many farmers who save its seeds for re-use.

Cotton, soy and many other kinds of seeds are precious commodities. It's true that Monsanto has competitors on the market, but its genetically-engineered seeds make it easier for farmers to weed their fields and ultimately cheaper to grow their crops. Go anywhere in the huge Central Valley of California, Arkansas, Oregon, Montana, Missouri, Kansas, Maryland, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, the Twin cities, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont and Washington, you will find out that farmers are using Monsanto seeds. According to AP, the U.S. may be the largest user of biotech crops, but many other countries such as Argentina, Canada, Brazil, China, Paraguay, India and South Africa are coming strong. You may notice that there is no European country on the list. It's because the residents of the EU countries frown on genetically engineered crops. They protest and demonstrate against them.

If there is any lesson from this crackdown, it would bat that farmers need to pay more attention to the contract and refrain from saving seeds bought from Monsanto. Otherwise, just like the music industry unleashed bands of investigators after those who exploited movies, music and video games, the farming community will have to contend with powerful grain companies coming after them if they fail to pay fees. Farmers may have a hard time letting of family business practices. Saving grains and seeds for the next planting season has been the way farmers have fed us for centuries. Now, if they want to take advantage of their herbicides and weed-control technologies, they'll have to pay. Is a monopoly being created right under their nose? Or can they do anything about it? But looking at the profits that come from the use of new technologies, farmers may want to jump on the bandwagon.

posted by AmeriKaKanKare @ 11:14 AM