Preview

Monsanto Harvest with Fear

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
5210 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Monsanto Harvest with Fear
Monsanto
Harvest With Fear

Company Background Monsanto positions itself as a relatively new agricultural company having formed in 2002, and focused on supporting local farmers around the world. They also promote themselves as a guardian of the environment with a mission “to produce more food while conserving more” (Monsanto.com). Today’s Monsanto conglomerate also promotes itself as the “New Merchants,” a leading research company in the field of agriculture-crop production, as well as a strong supporter of public and private research through its grant, donations and University scholarship programs. Monsanto’s actual history stretched back to 1901 when the original company was founded by John F Queeny who was married to Olga Monsanto Queeny where the company name originates from. The first product produced by the company in 1901 was saccharine. Today’s Monsanto has tried hard to clean-up its previously tarnished image as a chemical company responsible for the introduction of herbicides into agriculture, as well as other toxic chemicals such as orange, Bovine growth hormones and PCBs. Its controversial history is a major reason why the company refers to itself as the “New Merchants” and now positions itself as an agricultural company. The company’s key mission is to help farmers feed the worlds growing population. It claims that by the year 2050, food production must double to feed an expected population of 9.3 billion people. Monsanto uses leading edge agricultural technology and innovation to help overcome the many challenges to food supply, such as water shortages, energy shortage and climate change. Its goal is to help farmers produce more food by developing improved needs that increase crop yields and use less resources. This use of this technology by Monsanto is at the heart of the major present day controversy regarding Genetically Modified foods (GMO). Monsanto is seen as the major world-wide culprit and the largest producer of



References: Andree, P. (2007). Genetically Modified Diplomacy: The Global Politics of Agricultural Biotechnology and the Environment. Vancouver: UBC Press. Bahree, M Baue, W. (2005). Fines for Genetic Engineering Bribe. Retrieved March 20, 2010, from Mindfully.org website: http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2005/Monsanto-$1_5M-Fines19jan2005.htm Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee Duvick, D. (1995). Biotechnology is compatible with sustainable agriculture. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics, 8(8), 112-125. Einsiedel, E., & Timmermans, F. (2005). Cross Over: Genomics in the Public Arena.Calgary, AB: University of Calgary Press. Ferrara, J. (1999) Revolving Doors: Monsanto and the Regulators. The Ecologist. Retrieved from http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:xxxVE4LBTf4J:www.albionmonitor.com/9904b/monsantofda.html+monsanto+revolving+door&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca Inouye, K James, C. (2005). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2005. ISAAA Briefs No. 34. Ithaca, NY: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. Neto, R. B. (1999). Smugglers aim to circumvent GM court ban in Brazil. Nature, 402, 344-345. Rissler, J., &M. Mellon. (1996). The Ecological Risks of Engineered Crops. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Robin, M. (2007) Monsanto: The World According to Monsanto. Image & Compagnie – ARTE France Saegusa, A Shiva, V. (1993). Monocultures of the Mind. London: Zed Books. Trewavas, A., & Leaver, C.J. Conventional Crops Are the Test of GM Prejudice. Nature, 401(6754), 640. Veeman, M., & Adamowicz, W. (2004). Genetically Modified Foods: Consumers ' Attitudes and Labeling Issues. Consumer and Market Demand Agricultural Policy. Venkateswarlu, D Whitman, D. B. (2000). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Retrieved from http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/review.pdf World Conference on Science

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    As a producer of genetically modified seeds that lead to larger crop yields and eventually larger profits for farmers, Monsanto has a moral obligation to farmers who have grown crops and saved seeds for the next crop for hundreds of years before Monsanto began changing the genetic makeup of the seed. Farmers should not feel obligated to Monsanto as they have manipulated the future of farming through patent protection of intellectual property. Some thoughts should be discussed regarding Monsanto’s position; the comparison of seed manipulation as a form of technology, the use of patent protection, and the bullying of farmers through investigations of farmers reusing seeds from a previous harvest.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Within Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele’s article “Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear,” the reader receives information on the complicated history and questionable business tactics of the agriculture company Monsanto. Moreover, Barlett and Steele bring to light numerous counts of wrong doing committed by Monsanto by focusing on the legal actions and cases found in state and federal courts. Particular attention is focused on the vast resources and funds that Monsanto utilizes to deter smaller farmers and co-ops from continuing the cases in court, consequently, most of the cases are settled. Also, a great amount of space remains dedicated to a history lesson of the Monsanto company. Therefore, Monsanto has many ligations due to improper chemical…

    • 134 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    GMO-- Fernandez-Cornejo, Gorge. “Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S”. USDA Ecomimic Research Service(July 1, 2009) http://www.webcitation.org/5k2duJR3s…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Monsanto Pros And Cons

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This article is simply critical. Although over a hundred years old, Monsanto has become a broad name amongst college campuses and online forums of the younger generation as of recent years. Even marches in large cities and college campuses have been walked, March Against Monsanto. With the evolving and more common use of technology…

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Aurora Textile Company

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages

    1976: The success of the herbicide Lasso had turned around Monsanto's struggling Agriculture Division, and by the time Agent Orange was banned in the U.S. and Lasso was facing increasing criticism, Monsanto had developed the weedkiller "Roundup”…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Monsanto Company is trying to maintain an ethical culture with various stakeholders. The company used the concept of Social Responsibility and Business Ethics to create a reputation value to various stakeholders. For instance, Monsanto gave fifteen million dollars to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to do crop research in Africa. Also, the fund helped Brazilian children to maintain good health and basic hygiene. Additionally, Monsanto supported students who want to study agriculture. However, Monsanto Company’s regulation had become financial burden to many farmers. Farmers who buy seeds from Monsanto could not saved for future plant. Otherwise, Farmers will have to pay for Monsanto when they find out. Furthermore, Monsanto produced products that involved in the risk of animals and human health. Some of Monsanto’s actions should considered moral temptation.…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Monsanto’s marketing of genetically engineered seeds and its development of bovine growth hormone. Its political lobbying practices, seed commercialization practices of the seed industry have made the company more controversial around the world and a important involvements of anti-globalization movement and environment activists. Due to its movements of its business criteria and the strategies by licensing agreements. Monsanto had come under the investigation by the U.S.A Justice Department in 2009.…

    • 2651 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Monsanto, BP, Ethics

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Q2. Compare the benefits of growing GM seeds with the potential negative consequences of using them.…

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Evidence

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Pollan writes, “genetic engineering overthrows the old rules governing the relationship of nature and culture in plants.” He argues in his essay that the “old rules”, or natural (organic) ways of farming are no longer being valued, but rather overthrown and replaced by this new technology. We get the impression that Pollan does not trust this genetically engineered food because it is completely unnatural.…

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over the years, the Monsanto brand has tried their best to cater to their target stakeholder groups. It seems as though the brand would change its…

    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Monsanto is constantly seeking ways of using resources more efficiently while protecting natural habitats and animal species that we as humans share our planet with. They are working with farmers across the world to practice more sustainable farming and teach them about new innovations that…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Is Monsanto Good Or Bad

    • 1436 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Yet, none of this can change due to the amount of power and money this greedy company has made. Monsanto is a monstrously greedy company which is detrimental to the earth’s environment, the heath of humans, and the overall sustainability of the world; yet their power and money are keeping them arise despite of their negative attributes.…

    • 1436 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Effects of Gmos

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cited: 1. Tuft, Kristian Hoyer. “GMO’s and Global Justice.” Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 25.2 (2012): 223-237. Philosophers Index. Web. 23 July 2013.…

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Monsanto Essay

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Monsanto is one of the largest agricultural companies in the world. At the beginning it was a company focused in chemical and plastics just until 1980 when it started to be involved in the use of biotechnology in agriculture. It is recognized as being the first private company in genetically modify plants. They have a large list of partnership companies, among them are: Agra quest, BASF, Celectis, Ceres, Chromatin Inc. Complix, deVgen, Evogene, Protabit, Mendel Biotechnology, Senesco, Sapphire Energy, Valent, Intergrain, among others (“Monsanto Partnership”). Roundup herbicide and Roundup Ready are two of their most famous and successful…

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Monsanto

    • 1159 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The key competitive advantage of Monsanto is their biotechnology or their genetically modified organisms (GMO). The company maintains to deliver distinctive combination of traits and genetics through molecular breeding. Monsanto analyzes each seed before they are planted which improves the efficiency of the breeding process and the quality of plants. Their GM seeds have increased the quantity availability of crops; helping farmers especially in developing countries increase food production and revenues. They account for 90% of the worlds GM seeds and they also hold 70 to 100% market of certain crops; with high statics, the company is clearly one of the market leaders in their field. Monsanto have used their revenues from their competitive advantage to establish a fund, which funds the company’s projects in Africa, they also support youth programs and also young famers.…

    • 1159 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays