Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
arguments for and against the use of genetically modified foods.
issue of genetically modified foods
gmos debate for and against
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Is Monsanto Truly Evil? Over the past decade or so, society has made a turn for the better by putting more importance on their health and well-being. People now have begun to truly care about what they put into their bodies. Nutritional labels are being read, ingredients are being deciphered, everyone is becoming more knowledgeable and educated. Food companies everywhere are now advertising symbols that display the common health topics people everywhere want: “Fresh, Never Frozen” “100% organic” or “certified Non GMO”. Over the last decade genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have become highly controversial. Whether they pose a harm to human welfare or not has not been proven, yet a lot of people deem them as being detrimental. The widespread …show more content…
Gary Rinehart, store owner in the small town of Eagleville, Missouri claims to have been verbally attacked by a man who simply walked into his, “old-time country store,” claiming to have proof that Rinehart had planted Monsanto’s genetically modified soybeans, “in violation of the company’s patent” (Barlett and Steele). Rinehart describes the shock and puzzled faces of the customers as the threatening man continued. Except, no one was truly surprised, Rinehart goes on to describe that it was known; Monsanto held a firm hand to those the company suspected of planting or selling any of their precious seed. Except, Rinehart was not a farmer, nor a seed dealer; he was a small business owner in a town of, “350 people” (Barlett and Steele). The man was relentless, as Rinehart showed him the door, he kept spewing threats, greatly damaging the credibility and respectability of Rinehart and his business when he was, in fact, accusing the wrong man. This is just one instance, from many who have reported being harassed and threatened. Monsanto agents allegedly pretend to be surveyors pressuring unknowing people into signing papers disclosing their private papers to Monsanto. Because of the sheer amount of allegations regarding Monsanto’s threats, Monsanto themselves have a page on their website deemed, “Saved Seed and Farmer Lawsuits;” on this page Monsanto acknowledges the use of, “licensed private investigators,” may be used in order to, “look into the facts” (Monsanto
Now they know. They also know that for nearly 40 years, while producing the now-banned industrial coolants known as PCBs at a local factory, Monsanto Co. routinely discharged toxic waste into a west Anniston creek and dumped millions of pounds of PCBs into oozing open-pit landfills. And thousands of pages of Monsanto documents -- many emblazoned with warnings such as "CONFIDENTIAL: Read and Destroy" -- show that for decades, the corporate giant concealed what it did and what it knew.
According to Monstano’s website they are an agriculture company that helps supports farmers. They claim to do this by producing seeds that help farmers increase yield while saving the environment. This is a great business model as they produce seeds that are resistant to herbicides, which eliminate weeds from farms. This is such a great business model as they also produce the product that eliminates the weeds. In order to eliminate seeds from a farm, a farmer must buy Monsanto’s seeds, as well as their herbicides. However these seeds do not occur naturally in nature, like many bacteria who have evolved to acquire antibiotic resistance, these seeds are genetically modified by humans. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques such as recombinant DNA technology. Recently GMO’s have come to the forefront after many years, as people are starting to learn more from independent studies. However Monsanto has tried to cover up these studies in order to stop laws about GMO labeling to save the company. Monsanto has been linked to many different acts of corruption over the past decade, including using bribery to pay a politician from another country to try to stop legislation over GMO labeling. After clearly taking part in acts of corruption over a long period of time, Monsanto needs to be punished for their actions that are hurting the American public and environment.
Challenges facing the Monsanto Company have been many. This company has been engaged in unscrupulous undertakings that have resulted in innumerable lawsuits against the company. In many countries, Monsanto Company’s products continue to be banned while others face law suits on their viability and safety of the public.
The technological advances are increasing each year, and electronics are not the only things upgraded. The food eaten in the United States has also been touched by science in the form of GMOs. Although GMOs have been in the US food industry for almost twenty years, consumers should have the right to know what is in our food with mandatory GMO labeling.
Our attitudes toward GMO foods range from hostility to indifference. GMO foods, like pesticide-resistant Roundup Ready soybeans and fast-growing salmon, seem to exist primarily to pad corporate pockets. Most people are not aware that they are eating GMO foods. The greater percentage of the population is just looking at the price tag instead of what is in the food product. This technology has the potential to provide sustainable nutrient rich food sources throughout the ages if the science is not abused for the food industry’s
Monsanto is a multinational agricultural and agrochemical biotechnology corporation based in America and is the largest producer of genetically engineered seeds. Monsanto argues that using science and newfound research to create genetically modified food is necessary in order to save our world from starvation. Eduardo Blumwald, a professor of cell biology and employee for Monsanto, says that genetically modified food could be “the only viable solution we have for our future” (Ostrander 24) where it is predicted that the temperature and population will soar. Blumwald argues that without genetically engineering food to produce under high temperatures with little water, the world could potentially starve in this predicted future. Yet regardless of “biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit” (“GMO Facts”). Instead, Monsanto genetically modifies food to resist RoundUp, a pesticide the company has created to kill any plants or bugs other than the genetically engineered crop. According to the World Health Organization, this pesticide “is a probable human carcinogen” (“GMOs”) due to glyphosate, a
Monsanto Company is a Fortune 500 company founded in 1901 by John Francis Queeny. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Monsanto focuses on the production of agricultural seeds, biotechnology traits in plants, and crop protection chemicals. Monsanto originated with the production of saccharin. Over time, however, they expanded their products to include plastics, industrial fluids, herbicides, and pesticides. Monsanto’s shift from the chemical world to biotechnology came from their 1983 breakthrough as one of the first to genetically modify a plant cell. In 1987, they were first to conduct field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops.
Food is an essential part of everyday life without it one could not survive. Every day we make choices on what we put in to our bodies. There are countless varieties of food to choose from to meet the diverse tastes of the increasing population. Almost all food requires a label explaining the ingredients and the nutritional value allowing consumers to make informed decisions on what they are consuming. However, many may not be considering where that food is coming from or how it has been produced. Unfortunately, there is more to food than meets the eye. Since 1992, “ the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled, based on woefully limited data, that genetically modified foods were ‘substantially equivalent’ to their non-GM counterparts” (Why to Support Labeling). GM food advocates have promised to create more nutritious food that will be able to grow in harsh climate conditions and eventually put an end to world hunger in anticipation of the growing population. There is very little evidence to support these claims and study after study has proven just the opposite. GM crops are not only unsafe to consume, but their growing practices are harmful to the environment, and multinational corporations are putting farmers out of business.
Barlett and Steele, after arguing a clear case against Monsanto Company’s legal tactics, fail to provide adequate evidence to supplement the testimonies of extra-legal tactics, leaving readers in a position to vindicate Monsanto’s alleged conduct based on its legal aggression. Barlett and Steele’s decision to supplement their arguments with first person narratives from targeted victims added characters to an otherwise sound chronological observation and provide authentic testimony against faceless company representatives who may not represent the views and opinions of their employer(s). Barlett and Steele, who commented minimally on nonGMO/GMO product differences, criticize Monsanto’s aggressive and unorthodox expansion and misuse of the legal system to draw attention to the heavy handed company and to its
Originally a chemical company founded in 1901, the history of Monsanto famous in their crimes to society. The Monsanto today is focusing on supporting farmers around the world by bringing better seeds for farmers. Monsanto provides seeds, crop protection as well as field corn, cotton and soybeans. With more than 20,000 employees and 404 facilities across 67 countries, Monsanto invested $1,5 billion to research new innovations. (www.monsanto.com )
GMO foods, also known as the genetically modified organism, have rapidly grown since the late 1990’s all over the world. These organisms have their DNA altered in a way that is considered unnatural. This is so as to give the plant/meat the desired trait the farmer wants in the food, such as higher Vitamin A, C etc. In Canada, GMO food is in 70 percent of the food people purchase, and Canada also produces 6% of all the GMO food exports such as Canola, sugar beets etc. Moreover, another problem up North is the debate over GMO food labeling and arguments over whether Gmo food is safe or not to produce and eat.
The term GM foods or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques (Whitman, 2000). These plants have been modified in the laboratory to offer desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Also, genetic engineering techniques have been applied to create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and accurately. For example, this is done by the geneticist isolating the gene responsible for drought tolerance and inserts it into another plant. The new genetically-modified plant will now have gained drought tolerance as well.
GMO labeling is important because there is uncertainty in the safety of GMOs, which indicates a need for long term monitoring, therefore labels are needed to facilitate monitoring by the scientific community and diagnosis by healthcare professionals. The point being made here is that, while the technology of GMO appears to be safe and has been in use commercially for nearly 20 years, it is nonetheless prudent to watch for problems (Dahl). In their scholarly article titled “’Does Contain’ vs. ‘Does Not Contain’; Does it Matter which GMO Label is Used?”, John Crespi and Stephan Marette quote statistics showing that “…21% of Americans feel that GM foods pose ‘serious safety risks’…”, and that the percentages for European nations range from 30%
How many of you hear the words “genetically modified food” and immediately think “BAD”? How many of you scorn the idea that genetically modified foods are useful? How many of you have been manipulated by the media to think that all biotechnology is evil? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been genetically spliced to achieve a certain trait. As the demand for a larger food supply is increasing due to population growth, the benefits that GMO foods provide are being hailed as the only solution to the food crisis. However, many people are making inadequately informed decisions, and are pushing them to the back shelf. I will inform you on why genetically modified organisms may be the only way to a stable, safe future for the less fortunate.
"Monsanto uses patent law to control most of U.S. corn, soy seed market." Cleveland National News. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2009. .