Bringing a GM food to market is a lengthy and costly process, and of course agri-biotech companies wish to ensure a profitable return on their investment. Many new plant genetic engineering technologies and GM plants have been patented, and patent infringement is a big concern of agribusiness. Yet consumer advocates are worried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that small farmers and third world countries will not be able to afford seeds for GM crops, thus widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor. It is hoped that in a humanitarian gesture, more companies and non-profits will follow the lead of the Rockefeller Foundation and offer their products at reduced cost to impoverished nations.
Patent enforcement may also be difficult, as the contention of the farmers that they involuntarily grew Monsanto-engineered strains when their crops were cross-pollinated shows. One way to combat possible patent infringement is to introduce a "suicide gene" into GM plants. These plants would be viable for only one growing season and would produce sterile seeds that do not germinate. Farmers would need to buy a fresh supply of seeds each year. However, this would be financially disastrous for farmers in third world countries who cannot afford to buy seed each year and traditionally set aside a portion of their harvest to plant in the next growing season. In an open letter to the public, Monsanto has pledged to abandon all research using this suicide gene technology.
Although the campaign itself is about specific issues, the OCA also claims that Monsanto is responsible for the following:
Millions Against Monsanto
The OCA's "Millions Against Monsanto" campaign is an effort open to the public and directed to the company's President and CEO, Hugh Grant. It has also been created to allow those concerned to voice their opinion regarding the company's actions regarding "...sustainable agriculture and farmer's rights." The campaign also highlights other current, pressing issues such as labelling of GMOs available to the public and the intimidation of smaller farmers who are currently being charged with patent infringement by Monsanto.Although the campaign itself is about specific issues, the OCA also claims that Monsanto is responsible for the following:
- Persecuting small family farmers
- Bovine Growth Hormone
- Agent Orange(herbicide and defoliant with war applications)
- Poisoning the Third World
- Roundup pesticide
- Water privatization
- Genetically engineered crops
- Farm bankruptcies