Crop scientists say biotechnology companies stopping their research

From the article:

Biotechnology companies are keeping university scientists from fully researching the effectiveness and environmental impact of the industry’s genetically modified crops, according to an unusual complaint issued by a group of those scientists.

“No truly independent research can be legally conducted on many critical questions,”� the scientists wrote in astatement submitted to theEnvironmental Protection Agency. The E.P.A. is seeking public comments for scientific meetings it will hold next week on biotech crops.

The statement will probably give support to critics of biotech crops, like environmental groups, who have long complained that the crops have not been studied thoroughly enough and could have unintended health and environmental consequences.

The researchers, 26 corn-insect specialists, withheld their names because they feared being cut off from research by the companies. But several of them agreed in interviews to have their names used.

The problem, the scientists say, is that farmers and other buyers of genetically engineered seeds have to sign an agreement meant to ensure that growers honor company patent rights and environmental regulations. But the agreements also prohibit growing the crops for research purposes.

Article Continues:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/business/20crop.html?_r=1&ref=science

Food is more important than a business model. The rights of the many outweigh the desires of the few.

Publicly accessible, verifiable research needs to continue on this topic. We guard and monitor the purity of our public water supplies. We guard and monitor the processing of our waste water. We guard and monitor the delivery of electricity, mail, police protection and other needs of civilization.

Why would food production be any less important for public monitoring and guarding?

You need only look at Monsanto's profit reports to see that answer.

They really don't give a sh*t about the consumer... Neither does the FDA - the CEO's of Monsanto have been on the board of the FDA multiple times (revolving door politics). Monsanto also controls Equal and Nutrisweet, two artificial sugar products which contain Aspartame, a known neurotoxin and cancer-causing agent. Product loyalty is less important than ignorance.

Hmmm...all of the crap that people are expected to eat come from one or two coporate giants.
Why does the squashing of research into their practices not come as a surprise?
Monsanto and their like sound like something from a bad sci-fi movie....only this ain't no movie!

Finally - this is long overdue. But, I'll believe it when the corporate farms growing most of the nation's food do so with transparency & not secrecy.

That Monsanto is so deeply embedded in the FDA should be wildly illegal. How the revolving door relationship is permitted kills me.

This should be a giant "Red Flag" for everyone. It's just like the Pharm industry and the FDA. A lot of people die when they push through a product without studying the impact it has on the people, or the environment.

The truth about climate change and its affect on the society; effectually its just a marketing ploy.

Sure, that's melting the Arctic ice caps and glaciers worldwide at rates unprecedented.

in order to control the world, you have to do something to cover up your mistakes . I mean....? really? come on? . . . . is this a surpise !!!!!

checking

Corn, canola and soy are the gmo most widely used. So all those vegetarians are getting extra heavy doses of GMO. Losers.

Most vegetarians eschew corn, canola and soy, or purchase non-GMO corn, canola oil, and soy, so they are by no means losers.

food makers do not have to tell customers that it has GMO and some makers are banned from saying their products are GMO free.

Vegetarians know where to find non-GMO vegetables, which farmers grow them, how to obtain them, and how to grow their own.

Most people nowadays live in the city and have no idea really where their food comes from.

City-dwelling vegetarians also know how to obtain non-GMO vegetables - you are largely underestimating them.

And unless you are a fascist, you are aware that it is a Democratic right to know what is in your food.

Food will soon top oil as the next global economic weapon and companies like Monsanto know it. You can live without oil but you can't live without food.

With the advent of global warming new designer crops will have to be developed that can grow in a warmer climate and be resistant to the diseases and pests that warmer climes bring. I don't necessarily object to this. What I do object to is that the seeds produced by genetically engineered crops are sterile and can't be planted for the next years crop. That leaves the farmer, that icon of indepence, totally dependent on large corporations like Monsanto for their livelyhood. And by default it also leaves the rest of us depentdent on them for our daily bread.

This is a huge developement and concern. Controlling the food supply is more effective than controlling the oil supply i.e. starving people can't pump oil. This places WAY WAY too much power in the hands of people who have no loyalty to anyone other than themselves and $$. For this reason alone ALL research conducted by these companies must be monitored and controlled by the world governments. If the corporations don't like it then they can refuse to conduct research in this area which would probably be better for all of us.

Make no mistake about it folks, this will be the next major national security issue.

Absolutely. He who controls the food and water, controls the world.

Those who refuse to be looked into are those who are hiding something..... http://current.com/items/89834879/study_confirms_genetically_modified_gm_crops_t...