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Ontario, Canada.

This is an article from the Globe and Mail Newspaper. It depicts a story of a farmer fighting big business. It is about genetically engineered seed stocks. This may be what is driving the current US policy. It appears the main purpose of this law is to restrict free movement of seed. If you control the little guy you control the market. This article has opened a can of worms. IMHO.

"Agribusiness giant Monsanto Co. sued the farmer, Percy Schmeiser, after its agents found biotech canola growing in his fields in 1997. It contends he replanted seeds from those plants without paying a technology fee of about $12 an acre."

http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040120.gtbiojan20/BNStory/Technology/

1/24/2004 8:32:03 AM

Kenyon, Mn.

This is the reason for the so called "FRANKENSEEDS" seeds that produce crops that cannot be re-planted, protect your rights, protect your SEED, soon we all will have to be carefull with what we grow, afterall, the goverment can't let it's people "EAT' and not be profiting from it. There is some yet unneeded panic in the heirloom seed sector to this affect, I purchased a rather large quanity of tobacco seed a couple years ago and either it was the company I purchased from or the Gov, but I had to agree not to sell the resulting seed

1/24/2004 9:36:49 AM

[email protected]

This is why my friend the plant geneticist has spliced his own DNA into his patented Rice. He will always be able to find out if someone is stealing his intellectual property. If Howard Dill was starting the Atlantic Giant all over again today, it would be a wise move that he would likely try to follow.

Are all concerned parties following this concept?

Steve

1/24/2004 12:40:30 PM

Ontario

Wasn't this the case where the farmer was simply using his own seeds year after year? It seems that wind blown pollen from his neighbors cannola got into his crops. The Monsanto cannola was round-up resistant and soon the farmers crops had the same trait. Monsanto sued, claiming that the farmer benefited from their patented cannola even though the farmer didn't spray round-up. The farmer lost the case and lost his crop to Monsanto. Really this is a license to steal from farmers.

1/24/2004 3:41:19 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Thats the case. There are currently approximately 100 other cases pending. It contends he replanted seeds from those plants without paying a fee of about $12 an acre.
This is his own seed!

1/24/2004 4:14:43 PM

Nova Scotia

personnaly i think it's a bunch of crap. after you purchase a seed you should be able to plant it over and over again. you own it. but i also beleive you do not own the rights to sell that seed for people have spent millions likely developing it. my 2 cents

1/24/2004 4:21:47 PM

Indiana

So if we would attach our DNA to our seeds they would truly be a 463Hatfield or an 723Bobier or whatever.
Steve

1/24/2004 9:22:12 PM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Who will sue Monsanto & company for gene contamination in the nature, which is already the case with wild maize species?

1/27/2004 10:47:10 AM

[email protected]

Touche! Good one! This has been a lingering question all along. What do do when the horse get's out of the barn & no one can catch the dang thing?

1/27/2004 11:28:34 AM