Posted on 05/30/2013 8:00:45 PM PDT by Ron C.
Japan, the largest market for U.S. wheat exports, suspended imports from the United States and canceled a major purchase of white wheat on Thursday after the recent discovery of unapproved genetically modified wheat in an 80-acre field in Oregon.
How the altered crop made its way to the Oregon field remains a mystery. The strain was developed by Monsanto to make wheat resistant to the company’s own industry-leading weed killer. Monsanto tested the type of altered seed in more than a dozen states, including Oregon, between 1994 and 2005, but it was never approved for commercial use.
Yet the Agriculture Department reported that recent tests identified the strain after an Oregon farmer trying to clear a field sprayed Monsanto’s herbicide, Roundup, and found that the wheat could not be killed.
The report rattled U.S. wheat markets. In addition to Japan’s action, the European Union, which imports more than 1 million tons of U.S. wheat a year, said that it was following developments “to ensure E.U. zero-tolerance policy is implemented.” It asked Monsanto to help detection efforts in Europe.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Thank you Texas Fossil. I appreciate being corrected on the pollination topic and the other comments too. I agree with your position.
Thank you. I wasn’t worried this product would make people sick. I was just thinking it would cross pollinate and soon there would only be wheat of this type out there.
That seems to me to be a very bad outcome.
I’m surprised Monsanto’s lawyers haven’t sued this farmer for using their patented mutant gene grass . . . wait for it . . .
There is just something really scary about a Company that creates a chemical that will kill every known plant on the planet and then creates genetically altered plants that are resistant to that chemical.
The potential for some kind of science fiction type apocalypse is really frightening. They are playing God for fun and profit.
Since this seed was only tested and never released to the market, I translate that to mean any farmer being sued for having unapproved Monsanto genes in their crop may now extend their middle finger to the plaintiff and leave the court room.
They may be kooks, but if Roundup won't kill it, I'm not eatin' it.
“Not just Monsanto does this work...and frankly speaking, the company is not all that profitable so they sure are not screwing anyone.”
So are you saying Monsanto isn’t that profitable or successful as a company? That’s ludicrous. They’re huge, and have one of the most powerful DC lobbys.
Is wheat a perennial grass?
...the Agriculture Department reported that recent tests identified the strain after an Oregon farmer trying to clear a field sprayed Monsanto’s herbicide, Roundup, and found that the wheat could not be killed.
If Monsanto’s seed is so superior then why do they have to resort to such heavy handed tactics to push out their competition? Why would any conservative support the use of government to stifle competition. You apparently know nothing about farming and care little about the rule of law. There is no explanation for this occurence that doesn’t involve illegal activity.
Is not Monsanto wheat genetically designed to be sterile?
No.
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/new_route_for_GM_gene_escape.php
Here is one link. First hit when I googled “genes jump species.” There are others that could be worthwhile, but I wanted to get you an answer asap.
I didn’t read the entire thing, but info in the parts I skimmed is even worse that what I remembered reading several years ago.
it could be huge to all growers but why is everyone so upset about GMOs anyways?
Because for farmers, it means that they can no longer save seed to plant next year. Even if they never bought Monsanto seed and have saved their own seed for generations, eventually the GMO genes get into their grain through wind polination. Then they must pay Monsanto every year.
The bees die. And don't go trying to breed a hardier, Monsanto-proof bee or the government will come in and kill them all without a warrant.
it could be huge to all growers but why is everyone so upset about GMOs anyways?
Because for farmers, it means that they can no longer save seed to plant next year. Even if they never bought Monsanto seed and have saved their own seed for generations, eventually the GMO genes get into their grain through wind polination. Then they must pay Monsanto every year.
Humans have been altering the genetic inheritance of crops and animals for thousands of years. No one living in America has ever eaten “wild corn,” or “original wheat.” It’s all been modified. Genetically speaking.
You know that’s not the same thing. Selecting the best seed to plant next year brings about slow change that allows for both the positives and negatives to be observed over time and allows for other species to adapt along with crop.
This “crony capitalism” is not Capitalism at all. It is a soft fascism.
Many “conservatives” don’t seem to understand this. They equate any and all corporate activity with capitalism. It ain’t so.
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