Trying to avoid Monsanto?

[seedcorn]

ok, regarding seed saving.

does that mean I need to only buy seeds that aren't from Monsanto so I can save the seeds? I read/heard/saw on tv something to the effect that Monsanto is making seeds not ...um... what's the term.... where the seeds that form on the veggie don't produce new plants. can't remember what that's called.

so I need to only get seed that not genetically modified, right?

Terminator gene, that has been discarded. Altho there are varieties of watermellons and tomatoes that don't produce hard shelled seeds that are viable--seedless watermellons anyone?

On saving seed, only public developed seeds can be legally saved. If a plant breeder developed the line, it can not be legally saved w/out paying royalty. Does it happen, yes. Are they prosecuted, no. Why, too expensive to find, run through law courts.

Remember just because someone isn't prosecuted doesn't make it legal, its just the breeder who developed it, doesn't have the resources to enforce his rights. So are you concerned about being "legal" or moral?

 

[seedcorn]

who did own seminis?

 

[okiegirl]

yes, that's it. Terminator gene.

so, if I buy my seeds from Wal-Mart, they are probably not good for saving AND it's not legal?

wow!

 

[beavis]

Back in the 1990's I used to work in a biotech laboratory and part of my job was genetically engineering tomatoes, brassicas, strawberries, etc to delay their ripening process. We did this by altering the ethylene synthesis pathway.

Ethylene gas is given off normally by certain plants (banana, apple, tomatoes, etc) to promote ripening.

Stop the ethylene pathway, stop the ripening.

Anyhoo, we had a lot of companies interested in our product, one of them was Monsanto, a very cutthroat player in all of the genetically-modified plant industry. IMHO, they couldn't be trusted since the dollar was the bottom line.

As a side, I've come full circle and only grow organically, and try to use/save open pollinated seeds as much as possible.

 

[seedcorn]

yes, that's it. Terminator gene.

so, if I buy my seeds from Wal-Mart, they are probably not good for saving AND it's not legal?

wow!

All seeds if public varieties can be saved no matter where you buy them from. If they are an "improved" private line, it's illegal to save seed.

 

[okiegirl]

ok, so I can save Walmart seeds.

'nuther question.

the heirloom seeds are seeds that will produce fruit along with seeds that again produce more plants. some public varities may not produce viable plants. (stop me if I'm way off track here)
the problem is heirlooms don't have the disease resistance that hybrid seeds may have.

Right?

 

[curly_kate]

I would guess most seeds at Walmart would not be good for saving. I would say the same about seeds at Lowe's, Home Depot, Orscheln's, etc, unless you find ones that are labeled "heirloom" or "OP/Open pollinated."

Heirlooms can be a little bit fussier, but there are varieties that do have disease resistance.

 

[Rosalind]

Back in the 1990's I used to work in a biotech laboratory and part of my job was genetically engineering tomatoes, brassicas, strawberries, etc to delay their ripening process. We did this by altering the ethylene synthesis pathway.

Ethylene gas is given off normally by certain plants (banana, apple, tomatoes, etc) to promote ripening.

Stop the ethylene pathway, stop the ripening.

Anyhoo, we had a lot of companies interested in our product, one of them was Monsanto, a very cutthroat player in all of the genetically-modified plant industry. IMHO, they couldn't be trusted since the dollar was the bottom line.

As a side, I've come full circle and only grow organically, and try to use/save open pollinated seeds as much as possible.

You're not kidding. Many of my colleagues used to work at Monsanto. They have nothing nice to say about the company, and lots of bad things. Even if you don't think GMOs are so bad (and I know many scientists, although few of them actual industrial crop scientists, who think that GMOs are gonna Save The World), there are plenty of reasons to boycott them--basic ethics and corporate responsibility, for one.

 

[vfem]

I do not agree with the companies practices... they also not only patient seed, they try out genetically altered seeds in 3rd world countries. They are not doing what I consider fair testing either!

I do try hard to stir away from them as well... Not to mention that last year there was some comments in a magazine article I read about them pushing for a continued use of a pesticide created by Bayer Co. Why they were siding with Bayer I'm unsure of, they said they were NOT vested in the product? However, MANY food companies including Kraft refused to buy any product from any farmers using the pesticide after seeing test result on some cancers that is caused. Now why would Monsanto side with Bayer, even when bayer agreed to revamp the product and remove it from the market?

I do not trust them, and I do not like what they stand for!

 

[ducks4you]

I would boycott Monsanto!! ...AND, any other seed company that won't allow the average backyard gardener along with any farmers who might want to save seeds. It's ridiculous that our government pays farmers to grow or not grow crops, but the money that a farmer could save just by saving seeds and perhaps selling to a neighbor who is planting that crop in rotation is enormous. It's NOT that I've heard any desire to do so. But that is perhaps, because they've grown so used to the manipulation by companies like Monsanto, that they don't consider it possible any longer to save seeds.
Makes ME hot under the collar!!!!