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Monsanto, the biotech behemoth, once again finds itself back in the news.
The multibillion dollar corporation — renowned for monopolizing the seed industry with its patented, genetically engineered (GE) seeds — said in August that farmers and consumers can expect to see a new Monsanto product in grocery stores.
The product? Sweet corn, grown from their genetically altered seed, a product targeted at growers in the eastern United States.
Some studies, however, have shown that this GE corn may be more sour than sweet. A toxin found naturally in the bacterium Bacillus thuringiesis (Bt), previously used by farmers as a natural insecticide, is now being genetically engineered by Monsanto to express the toxin within the corn itself.
The toxin, in its natural form, remains inactive until consumed by insects. It can also be broken down by the sun’s UV rays and soil microbes.
However, the problem arises within many GE plant tissues, where the Bt toxin remains in its active form, and New York University researchers have suggested that this form does not easily degrade and can therefore remain in the soil.
Researchers at the University of Sherbrooke in Canada found the GE form of the toxin present in nearly 95 percent of blood samples from pregnant women and approximately 80 percent of fetal blood samples.
From these results, the toxin appears to be circulating throughout the human body. More research is necessary, but these findings may have strong implications for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and human health.
One needs to be cautious of Monsanto’s GMOs, especially considering their less-than-perfect history.
Monsanto’s claim to fame does not solely rest on the patenting of their GE seeds. They are also responsible for manufacturing the major health hazards Agent Orange and DDT, and knowingly dumping approximately 45 tons of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into a creek in Anniston, Ala.
Furthermore, Monsanto is renowned for their bullying and intimidation of farmers, who have frequently described their tactics as Mafia-like. Monsanto has filed 145 suits against growers for alleged patent infringement, involving nearly 400 farmers. They have patented approximately 90 percent of all GE seeds, ultimately securing a disconcerting monopoly in the seed industry.
This monopoly makes it nearly impossible for the consumer to avoid GE products, while also making it difficult for organic growers to survive financially or avoid a lawsuit. Even if farmers and growers choose non-GE seeds, chances of cross-pollination with Monsanto’s GE crops proves likely.
Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, a senior scientist at the Pesticide Action Network North America, said people should know corn is “very promiscuous, meaning it’s easy for cross-pollination to occur.” These implications are serious to any growers who do not use Monsanto seeds.
More familiar to Mainers, however, is Monsanto’s lawsuit against Oakhurst Dairy in Portland, Maine. They claimed Oakhurst’s milk labels — which inform customers that their products were artificial growth hormone (GH) free — deceived consumers into thinking that GHs were unsafe. Monsanto, at the time, was one of the nation’s biggest developers of the artificial GH, Posilac — a bovine somatotropin.
The dealings of Monsanto go virtually unmentioned by policy makers on both sides of the political spectrum, as their hefty corporate bank account has proven to persuade even the most resistant.
In Washington, Monsanto contributes to the political campaigns of both red and blue ilk. In 2010, they gave over $300,000 to individual federal candidates — both conservative and liberal, with $1,000 of that the pot even going to Congressman Mike Michaud of Maine. Michaud remained loyal to Maine growers and was one of 56 members of Congress to sign a letter directed to U.S. Department of Agricultural secretary, Tom Vilsack, asking him to uphold the regulations of GE alfalfa—a Monsanto product.
Additionally, the Obama administration announced in January that they planned to deregulate the use of genetically modified alfalfa, developed by Monsanto, giving the corporation free reign.
However, organic farmers and seed sellers are fighting back. In March, more than 60 farms, businesses and organic growers filed pre-emptive lawsuits against Monsanto to protect themselves against patent-infringement cases.
Monsanto continues to aggressively eliminate competition, whether it be organic growers, seed sellers or small-town farmers. I for one will continue to support local organic farmers, not the GE products of Monsanto.
Although the consumer may not possess the corporate power that Monsanto has secured, we do maintain control over our own wallets and the message we can send with purchasing power is astounding.
Erin McCann is a fourth-year biology student. Her columns will appear every Monday.
