Topic > Genetic Engineering: Monsato's Roundup Ready Soy

Roundup Ready Soy (RRS) is "a smart solution for the environment," says Monsanto, the agricultural chemical company that produces RRS soy (Greenpeace) genetically modified. Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that “[Roundup Ready soy] does not require premarket approval” and “its special labeling is inappropriate” (Whitmore). Nowadays we can find information about genetically modified foods everywhere. However, many people are poorly informed about genetic engineering. This is because the developers of genetic engineering and the US government exert pressure on public information. In other words, they give the public only good information and hide unpleasant facts. It seems that genetically modified foods have nothing different from natural ones and are not harmful. However, genetic engineering is dangerous. Because more than half of the farmers will no longer be able to earn a living; secondly, the very merits of genetic engineering are dangerous; finally, there are no laws that protect our rights. First, I am against genetically modified food because half of the world's farmers can no longer make a living. This is because they will not be able to afford to buy the seeds (Edwards 22). Until now, farmers could collect seeds from the crop and replant them next year. However, many genetically modified seeds are only grown in one growing season. Melvin Oliver, who works in the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) laboratory in Lubbock, Texas, and invented genetically modified seeds, says that genetically modified seeds are "a way to self-control non-use authorized of American technology" (Edwards 22) . Monsanto also insists that “because Roundup Ready soybeans are patented, their responsible use is different from that of other [general] soybeans” (Monsanto). But these statements only show one-way thinking that mainly aims at companies' profit. If farmers had to buy seeds every year, poorer farmers would no longer be able to buy them. What's worse, this could be dangerous for the environment. If most farmers purchased these seeds, natural seeds would disappear. What would happen if companies went bankrupt and failed to produce seeds that could not be replanted next year? Farmers will not be able to produce crops and we will certainly have nothing to eat. The developers cannot guarantee that this will never happen. Furthermore, the price of genetically modified seeds will increase. Initially, these seeds will be cheaper than common ones to encourage poorer farmers to buy them.