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Posted on 05/13/2013 8:50:24 AM PDT by Theoria
Edited on 05/13/2013 9:14:20 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Monday that farmers may not use Monsanto
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Really? I would think that it could be done, but I'm not sure it would be easy. How would you do it? I would think that this would require very expensive gene sequencing machinery as well as a fair amount of manpower. And more to the point DID they do it? Or did they just assume that what he did was recapture monsanto's previous work (which is most likely)
vegan: symbolism over substance.
Damn we use more of the cow than the Indian used of the buffalo
“Really? I would think that it could be done, but I’m not sure it would be easy. How would you do it? I would think that this would require very expensive gene sequencing machinery as well as a fair amount of manpower. And more to the point DID they do it?”
DNA sequencing is now so easy and cheap it can be done in-house or contracted to dedicated sequencing companies. We are to the point where an entire human sequence can be done for < $1000.
IIRC the gene for round up resistance was genetically inserted into the plant genome so they know exactly where it is and its sequence. They likely also modified its control region (like an on/off) switch. If it is patented all that info is in the patent. As far as whether they selected for the gene or took it from a resistant plant that will also be in the patent. You can theoretically select resistance as you described but if it so easy everyone would have done it already.
They don’t need to “sequence” A LOT. Only the presence or absence of specific gene (or genes) that Monsanto has the IP on.
The process is easy and much much cheaper (relatively speaking) than the lawyers’ fee.
Everything has a parent...
I am a hobby farmer (actually, my wife is, she does all the work). We have planted Roundup Ready soybeans. The seeds are not cheap, but they have a good yield, and Roundup keeps the weeds at bay which means that the field needs very little attention between planting and harvest. So, even though we pay for the seed, pay a neighbor to plant and harvest, and pay the COOP for Roundup treatment, most years there’s some money left over after the crop is delivered to the grain elevator.
This guy was trying to get the economic advantages of the Roundup Ready seed without paying for it. He knew that the soybeans that he was buying from his local elevator was Monsanto seed, he wouldn’t have bought it otherwise.
I’m a little surprised that the elevator would sell it to him. I don’t think that ours would do this.
My wife the vegan says my eating anything that had a parent is bad for you and soy is good.
Yeah stuff that had a face are tastier (see: bacon vs. brussel sprouts).
Clover honey just went up 1,000% in price.
Exactly, it tastes better if it breathes (to all scientists - yes I know plants breathe to but not the same as meat carriers).
This doesn’t effect your backyard garden and nobody will come after you, cross-pollinated or not. This only applies to farmers who grow enough to bring their product to market.
My issue is that does Monsanto still have the right to do that if they in fact wanted to?
Farmers like this product, that is why they buy this product. This product is expensive so some seek to find a way of growing this product without paying the price.
Growing a different strain nearby is no way of getting reliable transfer of the GM crop to your non-GM crop - and so far (despite this being a very popular story) nobody who Monsanto has gone after for IP piracy has done this - nor would Monsanto have much of a case if it did happen this way.
They probably will so always keep an eye out for a black SUV with the "Monsanto" logo painted on the side.
They're the roaming investigative division of the corporation and their job is to drive thru neighborhoods looking for people exactly like you who are now utilizing their patent infringed seeds in your backyard gardens.......
You won't see them in the daytime because they only drive around at night. These genetically modified Monsanto plants contain an enzyme that is undetectable unless it is illuminated by a high intensity, multiple spectrum ultra-violet spotlight that can't be seen but yet causes the plants to glow in the dark when the beam is focused on them.
If you suspect that Monsanto may be coming to your neighborhood, you can easily thwart their efforts to locate your plants by covering them at night with black plastic sheeting such as garbage bags. I simply take a couple of bags, slice them down the sides, open them up then lay them over the plants. I'll also put stakes in the ground that the bags will drape over so they don't damage the plants..........
As a side note, it also helps to have a neighborhood "Monsanto watch" group who keep their eyes open in case any of the Monsanto vans come to your city or neighborhood.......
Good Luck and don't get caught, we all have to stick together.....
I suppose they could if they really wanted to.
Then you should have read the article. He contracted on the seeds he got from Monsanto. At some later date, he couldn’t afford the expensive Monsanto seed so bought cheaper seeds from somewhere else that was a mixture of various soy seeds. Turned out some of those seeds were Monsanto seeds which he separated out of the mix and grew those. It’s the same as growers have done since the beginning of time. Even home gardeners save the seeds from the most hardy and better producing plants and sows those higher quality seeds the next season. The more you cull through and save the seeds from the better plants, the more improved your harvest will become over several seasons. Same with race horses. Same with show dogs. Same with ranchers who don’t let the unregistered bull from down the road wander willy nilly through their registered hefers.
Saving seed for the following season is "finding a clever way to get around paying for it"?
What world do you come from?
[snicker]
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