Monsato Company †A Question in Agricultural Ethics Essay Example for Free

Monsato Company A Question in Agricultural Ethics EssayMonsato Company is a Missouri-establish participation founded in 1901 by John F. Queeny and his wife Olga Monsato producing saccharine. In the mid-1940s, Monsato Co. began developing agricultural chemicals and throughout the 1960s and 1970s, herbicides were developed and introduced to the farmers. In 1981, a research group was constituted and the businesss primary focus was molecular biotechnology. In 1982, Monsato Co. bought Jacob Hartz Seed Co., a company known in the Midwest for its soybeen seeds. Also in 1982, scientists workings for Monsato Co. produced the first genetically modified plant. In 1996, RoundUp pull in Soybeans were introduced possessing an in-seed herbicide. Several other in-seed herbicides atomic number 18 introduced in 1997 by Monsato Co. such as RoundUp Ready Cotton and RoundUp Ready Canola.Also introduced is an in-seed insect protection called YieldGard Corn Borer. In 1998, Monsato Co. combines t he technology of in-seed herbicides with their in-seed insecticides into one product for its corn seed. In 2002, Monsato Co. identifies corn hybrids, which yield much ethanol per reestablish than expression corn. Later this same year, they also identify a similar hybrid in their soybeans, which will produce more oil than a normal soybean. In 2004, Monsato Co. creates American Seeds, Inc (ASI) to support regional seed business with capital, genetics, and technology investments. In 2005, Monsato Co. acquires four companies Fontanelle Hybrids, based in Fontanelle, Neb, Stewart Seeds, based in Greensburg, Ind., Trelay Seeds, based in Livingston, Wis., and Stone Seeds, based in Pleasant Plains, Ill.In 2006, they acquire several other local seed companies, some family-owned, including Diener Seeds, Sieben Hybrids, Kruger Seed Company, Trisler Seed Farms, metallic Country Seed, Inc., Heritage Seeds and Campbell Seed. Over the next several years, they also acquire other local and region al companies and continue their research and development of genetically alter seeds. Over the course of a few decades, Monsato Co. has gone from a small company making saccharine to a Midwest agricultural giant manufacturing genetically altered seed.1 A Possible Solution DeregulationAlthough the idea of producing more crops with less cost, such as additional chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides may sound, the fact stiff that Monsato Co. is not only toying with nature, they are also reposeting smaller family-owned companies out of business. In the past several years, constitutional foods have become more popular. Consumers want to feed their families healthy food, not food filled with chemicals. In 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided to back Monsato and other biotech companies by supporting(a) the deregulation of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. This would mean that the GE companies would have no restrictions on their technology and its use.2 De regulation has its obvious problems. Organic crop company leaders, such as Stonyfield, Whole Foods, and OrganicValley believe that GE crops use a higher amount of toxins, herbicides, and water.Also the claims of higher crop yield will not be met and the footing of this seed will be too costly for the average farmer. There is also the potential of cross-contamination of crops where a farmer using GE seed spreads the toxins to his organic neighbor through groundwater. This could lead to the organic farmers crops getting contaminate and his losing his license to sell organic products. Stonyfield and other organic companies opposed this ruling and in 2010 it went to the Supreme Court. The decision was that deregulation could not take place without the USDA making an environmental assessment of the genetically enhanced seeds used, and an injunction was put in place preventing the planting of GE alfalfa seeds.David and GoliathBiotech companies lobbied heavily in Washington. However, th e smaller organic supporters caught the ear of the USDA and as a yield persuaded them to conduct a meeting of the minds of both sides. The problem was clear there was an incredible amount of support, political and financial, in favor of GE alfalfa. The result was that the UDSA would vacate deregulation. The organic companies and farmers were faced with the fact that GE alfalfa was here to stay. What was left to fight over was whether it would be complete deregulation or one with restrictions. In their opinion, it was better to have some measure of control than no control at all, so the organic community stayed and fought. They brought to the table demands for reassurance that (a) organic farmers whose crops become contaminated by GE alfalfa must be compensated by the patent holders for their losses due to losing their organic certification and (b) the USDA must wangle all testing and monitoring of GE crops to ensure compliance as part of its role in protecting all US agriculture . 3 The organic community won that portion of the battle.ConclusionThe organic community may have won that battle, but they lost the war. Chemical companies and genetically engineered seed are a mainstay in todays agriculture. Along with that they bring with them the potential for contaminated soil and damaged and lost crops of the small, everyday farmer. These farmers and family-owned businesses are creation swallowed up on a regular basis. As the worlds population grows so does the demand for an ever increasing need of better, more enhanced, products. engine room provides us with the knowledge and growth for these, but in its wake leaves behind the things that matter very much to clean air, clean soil, fresh water and minute food.References1) Monsato. (2010). Monsato. Retrieved from http//www.monsanto.com2) Pearson, C. (2010, March). The Most Unethical Company is also Best Corporate Citizen. Cause Integration http//www.causeintegration.com/2010/ the-most-unethical-companyis-a- best-corporate-citizen-what-gives/3) Hirshberg, G. (2011, January). Speaking with One Voice to Stop Monsato and Biotech. Huffington Post, http//www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-hirshberg/speaking-with-one-voice-t_b_816447.html