And the worst company in America in 2012 goes to....

[Sathias]

Just thought I'd mention for interest sake, pretty sure Monsanto actually owns Academi (Blackwater/xe) now, that's about the scariest thing imaginable.

Yeah I mentioned that in the news thread on this. Couldn't agree more.

I've seen people mention Monsanto before. Can someone give me a TL:DR version of why they keep getting brought up? Quick google seach showed it as being a controversial internasional agricultural company so that's all I know.

Long story short is they are trying to patent many of the worlds basic foodstuffs, through genetic modification. They GM crops to be immune to Round-up (the pesticide they sell) but make the crops sterile so farmers have to continue buying seed stock from them rather than be self-sufficient. During the first gulf war, the Iraqi seed stock got bombed (funny that) then Monsanto were instrumental in supplying seed back to Iraqi farmers, on contract, of course.

There was also a famous case where a farmer who was not one of their customers had his corn fields cross-pollinated with his neighbour, who was... He was successfully sued by Monsanto for copyright infringement.

[Novocaine]

Without the customer there is no need for the business. If people want to smoke that's their fault. They could just, you know, not do it, but they do and so people make money and everyone's happy until someone winds up on life support. I stand by my previouse comments in other threads that a law should be made that lets you punch smokers in the gut as you walk past :P

I think we should be able to punch people who make dumb unthought out statements in the gut as you walk past them too. You would have a damn sore stomach.

Ever think of adolescents that started smoking before they really understood the consequences? Nicotine addiction digs itself deep into your bones dude, you can't "not do it" when you're addicted.

[Wrangl3r]

I'd just like to point out in regards to people saying monsanto are forcing farmers to buy their products, instead of regrowing their own seed, you haven't quite got the whole picture.

While it is true that if people want to keep growing monsanto's gm seed, they have to buy it each year, this is not because it is gm. It is because the they are hybrid seeds. Put basically hybrid seeds are a cross between two parent plants that produce a superior offspring, however when the hybrids go to produce their offspring, the offspring's genetics are hugely variable and are not any good for commercial production (for example, the seeds not even germinating). This type of hybrid seed system is also widely used in conventional agriculture (i.e. non gm) and once again, requires producers to buy seed in every year.

The option to use non hybrid seed is out there, the fact it is just doesn't perform as well and is therefore not as favourable for producers.

I'm not trying to support monsanto here, just trying to add some more information into the thread. Also while they may be seen as an evil company, a large proportion of the world's agriculture would be struggling without their gm products.

[Nekosan]

Also while they may be seen as an evil company, a large proportion of the world's agriculture would be struggling without their gm products.

Not really, there's evidence that the GM crops don't actually increase the yield at all, sure you can use other strains of a crop but if you're a dirt poor farmer in India are you going to buy enough for a harvest that's not big enough to feed your family? Or are you going to go talk to that Monsanto dealer who will give you the stock like a loan?

Doesn't work out so great when the crop fails anyway and a pile of farmers kill themselves because they now have crippling debt they cant possibly pay off, at the end of the day Monsanto and their GM crops didn't do a god damn thing to change the worlds hunger problem, we all got sold a BS lie by their marketing divisions and the only difference between now and pre-Monsanto is that now the poor people owe someone money as well as starving.

"GM crops to help solve world famine" is one of the biggest con jobs that's ever been executed.

[Wrangl3r]

Not really, there's evidence that the GM crops don't actually increase the yield at all

In this case, it's not so much a direct increase in yield, as a reduction to the amount of damage caused by pests and diseases, which in turn then increases yield. For example cotton crops which would previously need to be sprayed ~15 times for insects only needing to be sprayed 2 times. Firstly that's a massive reduction in cost (pesticides are not by any means cheap) and also that's a lot less chemical going onto the plant and into the environment.

sure you can use other strains of a crop but if you're a dirt poor farmer in India are you going to buy enough for a harvest that's not big enough to feed your family? Or are you going to go talk to that Monsanto dealer who will give you the stock like a loan?

I'm not sure where you're getting your information about poor farmers in India etc. growing Monsanto's GM crops, so I can't offer much of a comment to that. Though there is a huge difference between the poor third world farmer, who grows their own food for their family, and the large scale commercial producers who Monsanto (and other companies for that matter) market their products too.

[Nekosan]

In this case, it's not so much a direct increase in yield, as a reduction to the amount of damage caused by pests and diseases, which in turn then increases yield. For example cotton crops which would previously need to be sprayed ~15 times for insects only needing to be sprayed 2 times. Firstly that's a massive reduction in cost (pesticides are not by any means cheap) and also that's a lot less chemical going onto the plant and into the environment.

Those terrible pesticides that their crops semi-replace were sold to us by THEM, Monsanto spent 60+ years selling dioxin based fertilizers.

there is a huge difference between the poor third world farmer, who grows their own food for their family, and the large scale commercial producers who Monsanto (and other companies for that matter) market their products too.

Monsanto market to EVERYONE who they can get control of, totally different scales of farming but the fact remains that in the end they're in control of it.

[Auld]

The neonicitinoids in those crops are also killing the pollinators(the bees). This contributes to CCD and general puts most of humanity up **** creek.

GM crops are a money spinning marketing ploy. The western world wasnt short on food before we had GM crops (as silly as that sounds)