photo from John Pollack- My research topic will discuss the food company Monsanto and their production of a dangerous herbicide called roundup that kills all plants except their own because the genetically modified seeds they produce won't be killed by the herbicide.
Why?
- The roundup poses a problem for small farmers by cross pollinating and killing their plants.
-The genetically modified corn that Monsanto uses is being fed to livestock such as cows and fish, that causes them to have health problems. The unhealthy livestock is then fed to people and can cause new allergens and health issues.
My Audiences:
- I have chosen a group of uneducated people who are concerned about their diet. Showing clips of the movie "The World According to Monsanto" will cause them to become more educated on this issue. - My second audience will be members of the FDA, I will write a letter describing the harm that Monsanto has on local farmers and the production of non-genetically modified food.
Why is knowing about Monsanto important?
-The Monsanto corporation produces a vast majority of the crops that we consume.
-The roundup herbicide that Monsanto uses doesn't decompose in soil and is cross pollinating with other farms, leaving them without a crop.
- Monsanto's crop is fed to livestock that causes them health problems, that in turn causes new allergens and health issues in people.
What is being done:
As of now, not many people are informed or aware of the corrupt ways that Monsanto is run. The company Monsanto has strong ties with the government, which helps cover up the harm that they cause to future crop production and the health problems they have developed in livestock and people who eat the livestock.
What should be done:
The production of the harmful herbicide "roundup" should be illegal considering all of the damage it causes. Companies should start labeling their products when they use GMOs so people actually know what they are eating.
Bibliography:
Pascale, Richard T. Surfing the Edge of Chaos. New York: Crown Business, 2000.
The World According to Monsanto. National Film Board of Canada, 2008. DVD.
Food, Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Perf. Micheal Pollan and Eric Schlosser. Participant Media, 2008. DVD.
Pollack, Andrew. "Justices Back Monsanto on Biotech Seed Planting." The New York Times 21 June 2010.
