"monsanto" news and stories

Sure, you've seen Food, Inc. And maybe as a result you're not very happy with Monsanto, a chemical and agri-business giant headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Founded in 1901, Monsanto has been responsible for the manufacture of Agent Orange, DDT, and other chemicals that have proven to be environmental disasters. But their current infamy, according to the film at least, lies in it being the world's leading developer of genetically modified seeds, which cannot be re-seeded, forcing farmers to buy the same patented seeds year after year, undermining a system of crop propagation that goes back to the very start of farming countless millennia ago.

Naturally, the frankenseeds -- which are often genetically spliced with bovine growth hormone and other alien chemicals to improve the seeds' performance -- have their fervent detractors, and one of the foremost is April Davila, a Los Angeles native who read about how the Monsanto's genetically modified corn could be at the root of kidney and liver disease. So she made a promise to herself: She'd see if she could do without Monsanto products or anything made from them for an entire month.

When we were kids you had tender asparagus in the spring, juicy peaches in the summer and crisp apples in the fall. Nowadays there is no such thing as seasons at the supermarket. Right now in frigid New York, you can pick up a bunch of bulbous grapes or ruby red cherries. And starting next week, if you live in the St. Louis area, you can purchase a new breed of onion called EverMild, which, as its name suggests, is a milder version of the pungent bulb.

This gentler breed -- which will be available in Schnucks grocery stores -- is being introduced by the giant company Monsanto, which up until now has been known (in foodie circles, infamously known) for its weed killer and genetically engineered crops. (The company is featured prominently in the Oscar nominated documentary, 'Food, Inc.')

We've most likely all heard about the controversy surrounding rBST, the growth hormone for cows that makes them produce more milk. Well, Monsanto has recently announced that they're selling their brand of rBST, Posilac.

Monsanto states in their announcement that they want to focus on their core business of seeds and traits. However, it is possible to speculate that this decision may have something to do with the current consumer backlash against bovine growth hormones. Though rBST seems to be more harmful to the cows than to humans, most people are still very concerned about artificial hormones in the milk they drink.

My question is, where is Monsanto going to find a buyer for Posilac? It's already banned in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, most of the EU, and Michigan. With mounting opposition to artificial growth hormones, my prediction is that Monsanto is going to have a hard time getting this product off their hands. What do you think will happen to Posilac?