Monsanto shows its might

Monsanto is a huge conglomerate and on the Indian bourses it has the following like every other MNC. Controversy surrounds this seed company, which literally monopolises India’s cotton seeds. It is blamed for making super profits, by selling seeds at high costs and earning a bounty through royalties as farmers get caught in the debt trap. The highest number of farmer suicides is in the same belt where Monsanto enjoys a monopoly and thus indirectly, it is being blamed for the plight of the farmers. The company is blamed for genetic engineering to control seed and the food system through patents and intellectual property rights. The farmers in Brazil have also levied the same charges on Monsanto and farmers in Brazil have sued Monsanto for $2.2 billion for unfair collection of royalty.

And now one more story has emerged which goes on to show how the company will do anything to protect its turf. In 2006, a patent was granted to a man named Paul Stamets in USA. Though Paul is the world’s leading mycologist, his patent has received very little attention and exposure. Why is that? Stated by executives in the pesticide industry, this patent represents “the most disruptive technology we have ever witnessed.” And when the executives say disruptive, they are referring to it being disruptive to the chemical pesticides industry.

What has Paul discovered? The mycologist has figured out how to use mother nature’s own creations to keep insects from destroying crops. It’s what is being called SMART pesticides. These pesticides provide safe & nearly permanent solution for controlling over 200,000 species of insects – and all thanks to the ‘magic’ of mushrooms.

Paul does this by taking entomopathogenic Fungi (fungi that destroys insects) and morphs it so it does not produce spores. In turn, this actually attracts the insects who then eat and turn into fungi from the inside out! This patent has the potential to revolutionize the way humans grow crops – if it can be allowed to reach mass exposure. Naturally, Monsanto does not want this to happen….