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Biotechnology and Corporations

Biotechnology and Corporations. A sample project by Mr. Beckerman. Corporations can invest the money and effort needed for scientific innovation. William Standish Knowles is a Nobel prize-winning chemist who performed his work at Monsanto

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Biotechnology and Corporations

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  1. Biotechnology and Corporations A sample project by Mr. Beckerman

  2. Corporations can invest the money and effort needed for scientific innovation William Standish Knowles is a Nobel prize-winning chemist who performed his work at Monsanto Monsanto reports that it invests $2.6 million daily in research and development Monsanto has created a $10 million grant program called the “Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program” to “develop highly educated rice and wheat plant breeders who can serve as future agricultural leaders.”

  3. Patents can allow corporations to sue small farmers • Monsanto reports that it has filed 144 lawsuits related to biotechnology in the U.S. between 1997 and 2010 • In 2004, Monsanto Canada Inc. sued a canola farmer named Percy Schmeiser because his fields contained one of Monsanto’s patented genes • This case went to the supreme court of Canada • Schmeiser claimed that he never bought any genetically modified seeds from Monsanto • Monsanto won the case

  4. Do Corporations have too much power? • In 1999, the top five biotechnology corporations, which include Monsanto, controlled 60% of the pesticide market, 23% of the commercial seed market, and essentially all of the GM seed market.

  5. Conclusions • Corporations can be important partners in the advancement of science • Because corporations have so much money and power, we must be careful to prevent them from forming a monopoly over agriculture • In the future, clearly defined legal guidelines must accompany scientific advances, not lag behind them

  6. Works Cited • Cook, Christopher D. “Control over Your Food: Why Monsanto’s GM Seeds Are Undemocratic – CSMonitor.com.” The Christian Science Monitor – CSMonitor.com. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0223/Control-over-your-food-Why-Monsanto-s-GM-seeds-are-undemocratic/(page)/2>. • Knowles, William S. “William S. Knowles – Autobiography.” Nobelprize.org. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2001/knowles-autobio.html>. • “Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser.” Federal Court. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2001/2001fct256/2001fct256.html>. • Monsanto. “Monsanto ~ Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program.” Monsanto ~ Home. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.monsanto.com/ourcommitments/Pages/beachell-borlaug-international-scholars-program.aspx>. • Monsanto. “Monsanto ~ Why Does Monsanto Sue Farmers Who Save Seeds?” Monsanto ~ Home. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/Pages/why-does-monsanto-sue-farmers-who-save-seeds.aspx>. • Van Beuzekom, Brigitte, and Anthony Arundel. “OECD Biotechnology Statistics 2009.” oecd.org. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/4/23/42833898.pdf>.

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