Also the problem with GMOs is it transfers ownership of the plant from the public to the large companies that have modified it (as they will inventibly want to patent it). Is it really fair that they take thousands of years of evolution, change a gene or two, and become the sole owner of the strain? And often limiting the ability of the plant to reproduce, so you have to buy more seed from them. If it continues that way the amount of plants available under public ownership will continue to decrease.
pfdietz|6 years ago
In many crops the seeds planted are hybrids, which don't breed true either. That non-issue has been there since before you, and possibly your parents, were born.
What keeps the (gasp! shudder!) corporate ownership of these things from sinking us into a dystopian hellscape? Competition. You don't like one kind of hybrid? Buy a different kind. The seed makers compete fiercely for farmers' business. The same is true of GMOs.
makomk|6 years ago
Also, the whole "plant patents date back to 1930" line is literally out of Monsanto's talking points.
tom_mellior|6 years ago
That doesn't mean that they are a good idea.
> In many crops the seeds planted are hybrids, which don't breed true either.
And in many other crops Monsanto sues the hell out of farmers who replant the non-hybrid seeds.
> Competition.
Are there actually seed makers that would not sue their customers for replanting?
Turing_Machine|6 years ago
The original one is still there for all to use.
sp332|6 years ago