'Most Evil Corporation' Monsanto Opens up and Offers Rare

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

'Most Evil Corporation' Monsanto Opens up and Offers Rare CANADA ‘Most evil corporation’ Monsanto opens up and offers rare opportunity for its opponents to engage it http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/08/most-evil-corporation-monsanto-opens-up-and-offers- rare-opportunity-for-its-opponents-to-engage-it/ Graeme Hamilton | 08/11/13 | Last Updated: 08/11/13 7:15 PM ET More from Graeme Hamilton | @grayhamilton Christinne Muschi for National PostEric Darier (L), Agriculture Senior Campaigner of Greenpeace International looks on as Trish Jordan, Director of Public and Industry Affairs, Monsanto Canada speaks during a forum called "Mind the Gap" Bridging the GMO Divide in Montreal, November 6, 2013. MONTREAL — For years, Monsanto has been the favorite whipping boy of activists opposed to genetically modified crops, and the seed company has typically shied away from going head-to-head with its critics. People who are convinced you are the world’s “most evil corporation” and are to blame for everything from pesticide contamination to farmer suicides in India are not likely to have their minds changed. But on Wednesday night, Trish Jordan, Monsanto Canada’s director of public and industry affairs, walked onto the stage at the Canadian Centre for Architecture and took her seat next to Éric Darier, Greenpeace International’s senior campaigner on agriculture, for a discussion on genetically modified organisms. Mr. Darier said in an interview beforehand that it was a “very rare” opportunity to face off against Monsanto. “Until recently, they had a communications strategy not to engage with opponents,” he said. Related • Attacks on science: Canadian municipalities often more likely to listen to activists than scientific facts • Junk Science Week: GMO guerillas In the eyes of many in attendance, Ms. Jordan was on stage in the role of villain. Outside the venue, anti-GMO activists handed out pamphlets linking Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds to devastating environmental and health effects. Beside a photo of a mother kissing an infant, the pamphlet said GMO seeds require pesticides that threaten the health of pregnant women and young children. Playwright Annabel Soutar, who organized the event and moderated the discussion, began by saying the evening was not simply a spectacle to see the participants “duke it out.” (Mr. Darier and Ms. Jordan were joined by University of Ottawa microbiologist Illimar Altosaar and Claire Pentecost, a Chicago photography professor whose work focuses on agriculture and bioengineering.) Ms. Soutar said the goal was dialogue and praised the panelists for taking “a leap of faith” and agreeing to discuss the issues with “people who disagree with you.” For the next 90 minutes, though, there was a fair bit of sparring. “When you look at the overwhelming body of scientific consensus on the issue of agricultural biotechnology, it’s pretty clear that this technology is safe and useful,” Ms. Jordan began. “What has molded my opinion around biotechnology is really farmers. Farmers have enthusiastically embraced this technology.” Mr. Darier said farmers have not embraced the technology, they have essentially been enslaved by it. “You control most of the seeds all over the world,” he said. “There’s a huge corporate concentration around food, and we know those who control the food supply, whatever part of it, will control the rest of society. Who do we want to empower? The 1.2 billion farmers in the world who are now feeding us, or do we want to rely on large corporations?” There’s a huge corporate concentration around food, and we know those who control the food supply, whatever part of it, will control the rest of society. Who do we want to empower? The 1.2 billion farmers in the world who are now feeding us, or do we want to rely on large corporations? Ms. Jordan replied, “We control farmers? Ha!” Ms. Pentecost said industrial agriculture “completely poisons the environment,” requires too much fertilizer and is a large consumer of fossil fuels. She said as weeds have become resistant to herbicides, industry has responded with “stronger chemicals, more deadly chemicals, the kind of chemicals that were in Agent Orange, which Monsanto also made.” Mr. Altosaar, who supports the use of genetically engineered seeds, argued that they are not producing the Franken-foods the critics warn of. He used the example of Monsanto’s insect-resistant eggplant seed that is grown in India, which has eliminated the need for heavy spraying of insecticides. He said that by adding to the seed Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) — “a protein from the soil that’s in the room right now, crawling around on our boot soles” — insect larva are killed without the need for insecticides. “It’s biological, organic preservation of the eggplant, using a protein.” One of the evening’s most cutting criticisms came from the floor. William Van Tasel, a grain farmer from Hébertville, Que., said he has been growing genetically modified crops since 1995. “I never saw anybody get sick. I never heard any documented case of it either,” he said. “Look at the issue of raw milk for cheese. There were deaths from listeriosis. How come you’re not talking about that? Why are you against GM? Is it because you’re afraid of new technology?” Ms. Pentecost said the health effects remain unknown, but she has her suspicions. “If it is contributing to health problems, how would we know?” she asked. “Because we haven’t done scientifically based studies on that. There are different kinds of diseases that are on the rise, like auto-immune disorders and allergies.” By the end of the evening, Ms. Jordan had heard enough. “We’re not talking about science here,” she said. “We’re talking about ideological positions. We’re talking about sociological viewpoints …. They’re making judgment statements that all corporations are bad, and Monsanto is the worst of them all, apparently.” I don’t mind. I like engaging with people. I like people to ask questions She accused Ms. Pentecost and Mr. Darier of telling farmers who are “working in a growing, vibrant, high-tech, innovative industry” that they don’t know what they’re doing. “I love this discussion. It’s interesting. It’s passionate. But it’s going exactly where all these discussions go, because people won’t listen to each other,” she said. “They want their own viewpoints of how the world should work.” The evening was titled Bridging the GMO Divide, but even before it began, Mr. Darier said the gap separating him from Monsanto was too wide. “Their main business is to sell herbicides and to control farmers by supplying genetically engineered seeds to them and making sure they’re hooked on herbicides,” he said. “It’s totally contrary to where we should be going in terms of the future of food and the future of farming, so I don’t think we can bridge that gap.’’ The evening that started with anti-GMO pamphleteers outside ended for Ms. Jordan with students from the audience questioning her about why Monsanto is driving Indian farmers to commit suicide. Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva has said the company is to blame for the suicides of farmers whose crops of Monsanto Bt cotton failed. Ms. Jordan said the suicides have nothing to do with Bt cotton and directed the students to a web site for further reading. “I don’t mind. I like engaging with people. I like people to ask questions,” she said afterward. “They need to explore these issues. They just need to learn to read critically.” National Post [email protected] © 2013 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. 1 • 261 comments • Best • Community • • Login • Share • David Lynch • a month ago o o The debate is seriously stupid. Everything you eat today was, at some point, genetically modified. We would not have wheat, rice, potatoes..go down the list. Virtually all the food we consume today has been "genetically modified". I understand today's organic, 12-mile grown food or die zealots think GM food is death, but there is not a shred of evidence to support that position. GM rice is saving lives.http://www.theguardian.com/com... o o 25 5 o • o Share › . o Robmax David Lynch • a month ago . That's right. Rodimus Prime Robmax • a month ago . Ditto. o Andrew87 David Lynch • a month ago . Yes what we eat today is genetically modified (seedless grapes and watermelon, to name a couple) but no one-single corporation profits off of that. With Monsanto, not only to they profit from it, but when naturally occurring things happen, like seeds from farms blowing in the wind to other farm fields, Monsanto sues and destroys that farmer for theft. Robmax Andrew87 • a month ago . Nonsense. 5 5 . • . Share › . Guest Robmax • a month ago . Do your research -again a Canadian farmer was sued by Monsanto for GMO plants just randomly growing within his yearly no GMO crop. 9 4 . • . Share › . Robmax Guest • a month ago . I have looked into it. He illegally planted the seed. That's why he was found guilty. 5 4 . • . Share › . Andrew87 Robmax • a month ago . Just because Monsanto alleges he planted them illegally does not mean he planted them illegally. And just because the courts find him guilty of planting them illegally does not mean he planted them illegally. In case you haven't noticed, Monstanto, the law, and the government are all one. Most farmers who are sued by Monsanto are planting soy bean seeds that they buy, unaware that (as happens in nature) seeds get carries around by wind, animals, birds, etc) and don't stay uniformly in one single farm that actually has purchased Monsanto beans.
Recommended publications
  • Seattle V. Monsanto Complaint
    Case 2:16-cv-00107-RSL Document 31 Filed 05/04/16 Page 1 of 27 1 THE HONORABLE ROBERT S. LASNIK 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 9 CITY OF SEATTLE, a municipal corporation ) CASE NO. 2:16-cv-00107-RSL located in the County of King, State of ) 10 Washington, ) PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED ) COMPLAINT 11 Plaintiffs, ) ) 12 v. ) ) 13 MONSANTO COMPANY, ) SOLUTIA INC., and ) 14 PHARMACIA CORPORATION, and DOES 1 ) through 100, ) 15 ) Defendants. ) 16 ________________________________________ I. INTRODUCTION 17 1. Polychlorinated biphenyls (or “PCBs”) are man-made chemical compounds that 18 have become notorious as global environmental contaminants — found in bays, oceans, rivers, 19 streams, soil, and air. As a result, PCBs have been detected in the tissues of all living beings on 20 earth including all forms of marine life, various animals and birds, plants and trees, and humans. 21 2. The extent of environmental PCB contamination is troubling because PCBs cause 22 a variety of adverse health effects. In humans, PCB exposure is associated with cancer as well as 23 serious non-cancer health effects, including effects on the immune system, reproductive system, PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT - 1 Peter S. Holmes Seattle City Attorney 701 5th Avenue, Suite 2050 Seattle, WA 98104-7097 (206) 684-8200 Case 2:16-cv-00107-RSL Document 31 Filed 05/04/16 Page 2 of 27 1 nervous system, endocrine system and other health effects. In addition, PCBs destroy 2 populations of fish, birds, and other animal life. 3 3.
    [Show full text]
  • World Resources Institute the Monsanto Company
    World Resources Institute Sustainable Enterprise Program A program of the World Resources Institute The Monsanto Company: Quest for Sustainability (A) “Biotechnology represents a potentially sustainable For more than a decade, WRI's solution to the issue, not only of feeding people, but of providing Sustainable Enterprise Program (SEP) the economic growth that people are going to need to escape has harnessed the power of business to poverty…… [Biotechnology] poses the possibility of create profitable solutions to leapfrogging the industrial revolution and moving to a post- environment and development industrial society that is not only economically attractive, but challenges. BELL, a project of SEP, is also environmentally sustainable.i ” focused on working with managers and academics to make companies --Robert Shapiro, CEO, Monsanto Company more competitive by approaching social and environmental challenges as unmet market needs that provide Upon his promotion to CEO of chemical giant The business growth opportunities through Monsanto Company in 1995, Robert Shapiro became a vocal entrepreneurship, innovation, and champion of sustainable development and sought to redefine the organizational change. firm’s business strategy along principles of sustainability. Shapiro’s rhetoric was compelling. He captured analysts’ Permission to reprint this case is attention with the specter of mass hunger and environmental available at the BELL case store. degradation precipitated by rapid population growth and the Additional information on the Case
    [Show full text]
  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
    E-Served: Feb 26 2019 2:09PM PST Via Case Anywhere 1 Kelly A. Evans (pro hac vice) ([email protected]) 2 Jay J. Schuttert (pro hac vice) ([email protected]) 3 EVANS FEARS & SCHUTTERT LLP 2300 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 900 4 Las Vegas, NV 89102 Tel: (702) 805-0290 5 Fax: (702) 805-0291 6 Tarek Ismail (pro hac vice) ([email protected]) 7 Joe Tomaselli (pro hac vice) ([email protected]) 8 GOLDMAN ISMAIL TOMASELLI BRENNAN & BAUM LLP 564 West Randolph Street, Suite 400 9 Chicago, IL 60661 Tel: (312) 881-5970 10 Fax: (312) 881-5191 11 Attorneys for Defendant MONSANTO COMPANY *Additional counsel listed on signature block 12 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 13 FOR THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA 14 COORDINATION PROCEEDING JCCP NO. 4953 15 SPECIAL TITLE (Rule 3.550) ASSIGNED FOR ALL PURPOSES TO 16 ROUNDUP PRODUCTS CASES JUDGE WINIFRED SMITH DEPARTMENT 21 17 THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO: REPLY BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF 18 DEFENDANT MONSANTO’S MOTION PILLIOD, ET AL. v. MONSANTO CO., FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR, IN THE 19 ET AL., CASE NO. RG17862702 ALTERNATIVE, SUMMARY ADJUDICATION 20 Hearing Date: March 7, 2019 21 Time: 10:00 a.m. Department: 21 22 Reservation No.: R-2048303 23 24 25 26 27 28 303303266v1 1017234 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Page 3 I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 4 II. ARGUMENT ........................................................................................................................ 1 5 A. Plaintiffs’ Warnings Claims Are Expressly Preempted. ........................................... 1 B. Plaintiffs Do Not Dispute That It Is Impossible for Monsanto to Both Comply 6 with FIFRA and Provide the Warnings Plaintiffs Seek.
    [Show full text]
  • Alameda County Superior Court Ex Parte Declaration
    Alameda County Superior Court Ex Parte Declaration Which Clare shaft so soothly that Thorpe aggregates her mutualism? When Zacharia revitalising his caudexes malleated not herpetologically enough, is Edsel primeval? Is Jonathan always far-sighted and polypous when separate some pogy very prancingly and tunably? 16 County have in his personal capacity submit a smart and. 2 requesting a triai by declaration or 3 appearing via telephone conference. Superior form Of California County Of Orange. Free people read Powered by Superior realm of California County of Alameda Google Translate. The where Law Division operates in the Family living Center courthouse. Attendi mentre verifichiamo che condivide la organización, county superior courthouses. Contra Costa County business Court Department 31. The superior court customers that most services and electronic service windows to file an extremely risky proposition, plaintiffs opposition to. There is on a declaration: ex parte application for alameda county courthouse. J Hayward also offers a robust Access Hayward smartphone application. Or seventeen days in brawl the case such be retried de novo in landmark court Id at 11 Whether Alameda County provides representative data is intelligent open question. Other forms depending which utility you differ to file your ex parte RFO. The Court must declare their actions unconstitutional and inspect order them would cease. The court prefers to resolve ex parte applications on the papers only. The fact giving an application for some ship was actually before every court of. Coronavirus-Related Court Announcements. 1 Ex B F The asylum Court reserved jurisdiction to determine financial issues. Superior nature of California County of Alameda 2120 Martin Luther King Jr Way.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019-02-19 Baltimore V Monsanto
    Case 1:19-cv-00483-RDB Document 1 Filed 02/19/19 Page 1 of 36 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE DIVISION MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE ) City Hall ) 100 North Holliday Street ) Baltimore, MD 21202, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) MONSANTO COMPANY ) c/o Corporation Service Company ) 251 Little Falls Drive CASE) NO.: ___________________ Wilmington, DE 19808; ) ) SOLUTIA INC. ) c/o Corporation Service Company ) 251 Little Falls Drive ) Wilmington, DE 19808; and ) ) PHARMACIA CORPORATION ) c/o The Corporation Trust Company ) 1209 Orange Street ) Wilmington, DE 19801, ) ) Defendants. ________________________________________ COMPLAINT i Case 1:19-cv-00483-RDB Document 1 Filed 02/19/19 Page 2 of 36 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. NATURE OF THE ACTION .............................................................................................. 1 II. PARTIES ............................................................................................................................. 3 III. JURISDICTION AND VENUE .......................................................................................... 6 IV. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS .............................................................................................. 6 A. PCBs are Toxic Chemicals that Cause Environmental Contamination. .................. 6 B. Monsanto Has Long Known of PCBs’ Toxicity. .................................................... 9 D. Monsanto Concealed the Nature of PCBs from Governmental Entities. .............. 19 E. Maryland and Baltimore Waters
    [Show full text]
  • Monsantos Harvest of Fear
    Monsanto's Harvest of Fear | Politics | Vanity Fair http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805?pri... I NVESTI GATI ON Monsanto already dominates America’s food chain with its genetically modified seeds. Now it has targeted milk production. Just as frightening as the corporation’s tactics–ruthless legal battles against small farmers–is its decades-long history of toxic contamination. BY DONALD L. BARLETT AND JAMES B. STEELE MAY 2008 No thanks: An anti-Monsanto crop circle made by farmers and volunteers in the Philippines. By Melvyn Calderon/Greenpeace HO/A.P. Images. Gary Rinehart clearly remembers the summer day in 2002 when the stranger walked in and issued his threat. Rinehart was behind the counter of the Square Deal, his “old-time country store,” as he calls it, on the fading town square of Eagleville, Missouri, a tiny farm community 100 miles north of Kansas City. The Square Deal is a fixture in Eagleville, a place where farmers and townspeople can go for lightbulbs, greeting cards, hunting gear, ice cream, aspirin, and dozens of other small items without having to drive to a big-box store in Bethany, the county seat, 15 miles down Interstate 35. Everyone knows Rinehart, who was born and raised in the area and runs one of Eagleville’s few surviving businesses. The stranger came up to the counter and asked for him by name. 1 of 19 4/18/2010 9:28 PM Monsanto's Harvest of Fear | Politics | Vanity Fair http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805?pri... “Well, that’s me,” said Rinehart.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Report for Monsanto Company
    Strategic Report for Monsanto Company Kevin Yamazaki Anastasia Dialynas Jed Cullen April 7, 2010 Monsanto Company Table of Contents Executive Summary................................................................................................... 3 Company History ....................................................................................................... 5 Monsanto’s Beginnings (1901-1960)........................................................................ 5 The Birth of Monsanto’s Agricultural Division (1960-1997) ...................................... 5 The ‘New’ Monsanto (1997-2009) ............................................................................ 7 Competitive Analysis................................................................................................. 9 Internal Rivalry........................................................................................................ 10 Entry Threat............................................................................................................ 12 Buyer Power........................................................................................................... 14 Supplier Power ....................................................................................................... 16 Substitutes.............................................................................................................. 17 Complements ......................................................................................................... 21 Financial Analysis...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Competition, Intellectual Property Rights, and Transgenic Seed
    COMPETITION, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND TRANSGENIC SEED DIANA L. Mosst I. INTRODUCTION U.S. agriculture has been the testing ground for rapid innovation and penetration of transgenic crop technologies, particularly for row crops such as corn, cotton, and soybeans. Intellectual property ("IP") rights ideally promote innovation in agricultural biotechnology and crop science by allowing patent holders to appropriate the value of their investments in research and development ("R&D") that lead to commercialization of new genetic traits ("traits") and traited seed. These technologies, which command substantial price premiums through technology fees and royalties, cover a range of agronomic plant performance features, such as herbicide tolerance ("Ht"), insect resistance ("Bt"), and drought resistance. These technologies also cover other value added characteristics, such as superior amino acid balance. The enormous value and broad scope of IP rights involving transgenic seed, which some argue is a "self- replicating" technology, are best illustrated by the steady march of patent infringement claims over the last decade.I The courts have fairly consistently found for patent holders in major infringement cases. Antitrust counterclaims by growers, seed companies, and competing traits developers have fared poorly in most cases. At the same time, the courts have avoided providing clear guidance on distinguishing the type of conduct that "crosses the line" between: (1) what is legitimately within the scope of an IP right, versus (2) what exceeds the bounds of that right through the exercise of market power that is strategically designed to limit or control competition.2 Without clear calls on "balls and strikes" on such cross-over points, IP law threatens to work at cross-purposes to competition law.
    [Show full text]
  • United States District Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division
    Case: 4:05-cv-01108-ERW Doc. #: 190 Filed: 09/20/07 Page: 1 of 50 PageID #: <pageID> UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION HILMER SCHOENBAUM, ) on behalf of himself and all ) others similarly situated, ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) vs. ) Case No. 4:05CV01108 ERW ) E.I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND ) COMPANY, PIONEER HI-BRED ) INTERNATIONAL, INC., and ) MONSANTO COMPANY, ) ) Defendants. ) MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter comes before the Court on Defendants E.I. DuPont De Numours and Company; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; and Monsanto Company’s Joint Motion to Dismiss [doc. #138]. I. BACKGROUND FACTS Defendant Monsanto Company develops, manufacturers, licenses, and sells agricultural biotechnology, agricultural chemicals, and other agricultural products. Monsanto developed plant biotechnology that enabled the creation of genetically improved crops by transferring into crop seed one or more genes that give the resulting plants various favorable traits. One type of genetically modified crop seed marketed by Monsanto is Roundup Ready® corn and soybean seed, which is resistant to glyphosate-based herbicides, such as Monsanto’s Roundup® brand herbicide. One other genetically modified crop seed is Monsanto’s YieldGard® corn seed, which is resistant to certain pests and insects. Monsanto holds the patent on these technologies. Case: 4:05-cv-01108-ERW Doc. #: 190 Filed: 09/20/07 Page: 2 of 50 PageID #: <pageID> Monsanto sells its patented technology to seed producers, including Defendants E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (“Defendant DuPont” or “DuPont”) and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (“Defendant Pioneer” or “Pioneer”), under a license to use the gene technology to create certain genetically-modified soybean and corn seeds.
    [Show full text]
  • Monsanto Verdict Law Firm
    Monsanto Verdict Law Firm Mead never overawe any necropolis sulphurated intolerably, is Solly resoluble and Buddhism enough? Unspilled and unconforming Rikki unreel her iceberg pillage pinnately or vesturing plenarily, is Wilburt excommunicable? Noland still complain smart while subcordate Gustavus caresses that poolroom. Roundup and their names, of roundup for the makers of his wife, which evidence supports the role as employees to law firm to trial However, they exist usually not painful. His law firms nationwide is. Instead, construction was the result of Monsanto and high ranking officials in the EPA working together may prevent judicial review. We are qanon followers going to a dangerous product manufacturers of its new england; tells jurors and browser that glyphosate was handed down. More than 9300 people have filed suit against Monsanto Company after maternal or their loved ones developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Roundup is sold in hardware stores and gardening centers. Feinberg stated that compensation had life to be discussed in global mediation discussions. Certain to be eligible for them published reports for cases it can be incredibly throughout france, you to wear gloves is necessary to? Oklahoma City Products Liability Lawyers Handling Roundup Claims. RoundUp Lawsuit Reputable And Trusted Injury Firm. Search for monsanto, is now says otherwise unable to? Bayer, people research with the negotiations said. Johnson's spokeswoman Diana McKinley said he write his lawyers are reviewing the decision and haven't decided the different step Although we team a reduction. People so far because of registering pesticides produced roundup mdl lawsuit attorney but the firm serves on.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetically Modified Seeds As De Facto Standard Essential Patents" (2014)
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by The University of Akron The University of Akron IdeaExchange@UAkron Akron Law Publications The chooS l of Law January 2014 Food for Thought: Genetically Modified eedS s as De Facto Standard Essential Patents Benjamin M. Cole Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, [email protected] Brent J. Horton Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, [email protected] Ryan G. Vacca University of Akron School of Law, [email protected] Please take a moment to share how this work helps you through this survey. Your feedback will be important as we plan further development of our repository. Follow this and additional works at: http://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/ua_law_publications Part of the Agriculture Law Commons, and the Intellectual Property Law Commons Recommended Citation Cole, Benjamin M.; Horton, Brent J.; and Vacca, Ryan G., "Food for Thought: Genetically Modified Seeds as De Facto Standard Essential Patents" (2014). Akron Law Publications. 47. http://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/ua_law_publications/47 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The chooS l of Law at IdeaExchange@UAkron, the institutional repository of The nivU ersity of Akron in Akron, Ohio, USA. It has been accepted for inclusion in Akron Law Publications by an authorized administrator of IdeaExchange@UAkron. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON SCHOOL OF LAW LEGAL STUDIES RESEARCH PAPER SERIES Food for Thought: Genetically Modified Seeds as De Facto Standard Essential Patents Ryan G. Vacca Assistant Professor of Law University of Akron School of Law Benjamin M.
    [Show full text]
  • Print Q&A C.Elliot.U1
    Global Industrial Practice Redefining Agribusiness q & a with monsanto chief technology officer robert t. fraley Being an industry innovator isn’t just about advancing technology. Often, what can make the difference between success and failure is a company’s ability to actively manage the organizational and business issues that support those technological advances. As part of Spencer Stuart’s ongoing series of interviews with top agribusiness leaders, Dr. Robert T. Fraley, chief technology officer at Monsanto, talks about the company’s exciting research in biotech and genomics, how the technology is reshaping modern agriculture, and the leadership issues facing the company as it drives these advances. What are the specific leadership challenges for a global, high tech company like Monsanto? Fraley: We have a unique leadership challenge in that we’re defining an industry that never existed before; we’re bringing a new set of science-based products into agriculture. There is a huge amount of excitement at Monsanto about these advances, but our challenge as leaders is to try to forecast or think through the path of something that’s being done for the first time. Many times, that means we must develop the business framework and encourage the development of the regulatory framework and the commercial paradigms that we’ll be working from, which may differ from product to product and country to country. In addition, the scrutiny we face in every one of those facets of business — whether it’s regulatory, product development, market practices or market acceptance — is very high. The bar is high, the rate of inspection and re-inspection is high and that requires us to act safely and think carefully about anything we do and how our actions might be setting precedents for the future.
    [Show full text]