[tomato] This seems insane to me
Richard Yarnell (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Tue, 20 Oct 1998 17:35:29 -0700 (PDT)
Some of you may have seen this tidbit. Since we all garden, many of us
save seeds, and there has been a recurring discussion about hybrid seeds
and "heirlooms," I'd like to hear from the list about the "Terminator"
gene Monsanto intends to loose on the world with the assistance of the USDA.
The commentary is a remnant of a posting I did to a local (on my provider)
general discussion bb.
If you don't garden but do eat and can imagine that someday there will be a
cataclism which interrupts trade, industrial production, or some other
unimagined stupidity, then contemplate farmers and gardeners who have
nothing but sterile seed available.
Take a look at how broad the patent is. What happens if the
terminator gene is transmitted to open pollinated plants? Suddenly the
heirloom varieties which we love for their taste, productivity, resistance
to pests and disease, and the repository for genes not yet recognized for
their importance will be lost.
I don't think I'm exagerating when I say this is as bad as any biological
weapon yet devised. And it's all for profit. Once it's loose, there will
be no controlling it. I promise it will interrupt the natural production
of seed and will do more than produce corporate profit. Eventually it
will cause terrible global famine.
In Russia, one of the greatest collections of seed is wasting away for
lack of funds to maintain it (seeds must be planted periodically to
produce new stock - seeds eventually die). Industrial agriculture has
already drastically reduced the number of varieties of almost every food
producing plant we use. Now this. It is insane and must be stopped.
Take the time to first read the following article and then contact your
own legislator, Vice President Gore, and the three individuals mentioned
in the article.
Thanks.
================= Begin forwarded message =================
From: panupdates@igc.apc.org (unknown)
To: panups@igc.apc.org
Subject: PANUPS:Terminator Technology
Date: Fri, 09 Oct
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P A N U P S
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Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
http://www.panna.org/panna/
email panna@panna.org
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Monsanto in Negotiations with USDA to Finalize Control of Terminator
Technology
October 9, 1998
The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) has launched
an international campaign to stop negotiations between the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a subsidiary of Monsanto
regarding the "Terminator" technology. Terminator technology -- co-
developed by USDA and Delta & Pine Land Co. and partially financed
with U.S. taxpayer dollars -- will force farmers to return to the
commercial seed market every year since they will no longer be able
to save seed from their harvest. This technology enables a company
to genetically alter seed to produce crops that in turn produce
sterile seed.
Delta & Pine Land Co. (D&PL) and the USDA received the patent on
Terminator technology in March 1998. In May, Monsanto announced that
it would acquire Delta & Pine Land Co. for US$1.8 billion. Monsanto,
which recently merged with American Home Products, is now the
world's largest agrochemical corporation and second largest seed
company. Monsanto's total 1996 revenues were US$9.26 billion, and
the company's genetically engineered crops are expected to be used
on approximately 50 million acres worldwide in 1998.
Currently, Monsanto's subsidiary Delta & Pine Land is negotiating
with USDA to have an exclusive license on the U.S. government's
share in the Terminator technology patent. The patent is broad,
applying to plants and seeds of all species, including both
transgenic (genetically engineered) and conventionally-bred seeds.
Since D&PL worked with USDA to develop the technology, the company
has the option to negotiate an exclusive license under U.S. law.
RAFI is asking everyone concerned about the use of Terminator
technology to urge U.S. government officials to stop negotiations
with Monsanto's subsidiary and to halt all commercial development of
this technology.
Melvin J. Oliver, a USDA molecular biologist and primary inventor of
the Terminator, explained why the U.S. government developed a
technology that prohibits farmers from saving proprietary seed: "My
main interest is protection of American technology. Our mission is
to protect U.S. agriculture, and to make us competitive in the face
of foreign competition. Without this, there is no way of protecting
the technology [patented seed]."
The potential impact of the Terminator technology goes far beyond
U.S. borders. It is an international issue with global implications.
Delta & Pine Land has said that it will target the use of Terminator
seeds in developing countries, where over 1.4 billion people --
primarily poor farmers -- depend on farm-saved seed as their primary
seed source. They have indicated that they will apply for patents in
87 countries around the world. The patent is pending at the European
Patent Office, in Canada, Australia, Japan and South Africa.
The Terminator technology is the subject of controversy and debate
worldwide. For example:
In May, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity recommended that the precautionary principle be
applied to the Terminator technology. The Conference also directed
its scientific body to examine the technology's impact on farmers
and biodiversity.
India's agriculture minister Som Pal told the Indian parliament in
August that he has banned the import of seeds containing the
Terminator gene because of the potential harm to Indian agriculture.
By majority vote, the Dutch Parliament recently moved to oppose the
European Patent Directive by appealing to the European Court of
Justice. The Terminator patent is one of the key issues that
prompted the Dutch to renew objections to the Patent Directive that
was passed by the European Parliament earlier this year.
RAFI is urging government institutions to take steps to safeguard --
not eliminate -- the fundamental right of farmers to save seed and
breed crops. RAFI is also calling for protest over the fact that
public research funds were used to develop a technology that will
bring no agronomic benefit to farmers, and no benefits to consumers.
Negotiations between USDA and MonsantoUs subsidiary are now
underway. To see sample letters, and automatic sending options as
well as additional information on Terminator technology, go to
RAFI's web site: http://www.rafi.org/usda.html. Email messages
and/or faxes can be sent to the following USDA official and members
of Congress.
The Honorable Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
Email agsec@usda.gov; fax (202) 720-2166
The Honorable Robert F. Smith, Chair
House Agriculture Committee
Email Bob.smith@mail.house.gov; fax (202) 225-0917
The Honorable Richard G. Lugar, Chair
Senate Agriculture Committee
Email senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov; fax (202) 224-1725
Source/contact: Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI),
P.O. Box 640, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312; phone (919) 542-1396;
fax (919) 542-0069; email rafiusa@rafi.org; web site www.rafi.ca.
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