Environment

Biotechnology Seed Companies Accused of Thwarting Research

by Geneva B | February 20, 2009 at 04:36 pm

229 views | 23 Recommendations | 9 comments

As anyone who has ever heard about what companies like Monsanto do behind closed doors would already know, biotechnology remains a gray, and apparently somewhat shady, area. There are growing concerns over the safety of biotech crops and their potentially detrimental consequences to the environment and human health.

Biotechnology companies are keeping university scientists from fully researching the effectiveness and environmental impact of the industry’s genetically modified crops, according to an unusual complaint issued by a group of those scientists.
“No truly independent research can be legally conducted on many critical questions,” the scientists wrote in a statement submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency. The E.P.A. is seeking public comments for scientific meetings it will hold next week on biotech crops.

Now, if these companies didn't have anything to hide, wouldn't they be more than happy to have researchers back up their positive claims? These companies are often far less than transparent; they are downright secretive. Check out this recent article about superweeds and GMOs to see what kind of controversy biotechnology has been causing.

In the contractual agreements between corporations and the buyers of genetically engineered seeds, it is outlined that growing GMO crops for research is prohibited. Does this set off alarm bells for anyone else? Seed companies must grant explicit permission to researchers for studies, permitting companies to either "review" research findings before they are published or deny permission altogether.

Such agreements have long been a problem, the scientists said, but they are going public now because frustration has been building.
“If a company can control the research that appears in the public domain, they can reduce the potential negatives that can come out of any research,” said Ken Ostlie, an entomologist at the University of Minnesota, who was one of the scientists who had signed the statement.

This is a multifaceted issue, but what it comes down to is the same old routine of corporations putting profits ahead of people. Companies like Monsanto, Syngenta and DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred use excuses like intellectual property rights to keep scientific researchers and the public alike from knowing the truth about what biotechnology can possibly do to the world's food supply. Scary.

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Frankenstian

at 19:33 on February 20th, 2009

this is a image for a work, i hope to enjoy it.

Frankenstian has contributed a photo to this story.

Barbara McPherson

at 19:48 on February 20th, 2009

Follow the money!

Amy Judd

at 19:49 on February 20th, 2009

I think they want to reduce the negative comments around this work because there are going to be so many negative comments. It really seems like they would want at least some research done to reduce nervousness around this issue.

mtammas

at 20:06 on February 20th, 2009

This piece is a great alongside the heritage seed story posted earlier today. Frankenfood is the product of GMO crops. Not good for people, not good for the planet.

syngenta_ouest

at 00:36 on February 21st, 2009

Look that farmer ,he was very enjoy with syngenta company

syngenta_ouest has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

at 00:39 on February 21st, 2009

Independent and government funded research by several Universities and independent labs is needed before any product hits the market and this has to be checked, controlled by third parties and double checked before any marketing can even be allowed. Today Monsanto and others runs there research and marketing as is we lived in the Wild West era. This has to change and it has to change fast.

startocaster

at 10:59 on February 22nd, 2009

This story is important but wait until the evidence on WiFi radiation comes out. We are being slowly micowaved to death!

Stratocaster

Geneva B

at 12:08 on February 22nd, 2009

Oh no! That is creepy!

Paschen

at 05:42 on February 23rd, 2009

WiFi does not have radiation. Nuclear does. Same was said about the Radio and TV as well as Telephone and Cell phones. Your TV set and Microwave are far more dangerous then Wifi signals could ever be. Don't you use a computer? Those computer have more toxic hard ware in them then some toxic labelled waste.