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I'll add context to #2: according to this source (http://fortune.com/2014/06/26/monsanto-gmo-crops/ http://fortune.com/2014/06/26/monsanto-gmo-crops/), about 80
by soundwave106 9y ago
I'll add context to #2: according to this source (http://fortune.com/2014/06/26/monsanto-gmo-crops/ http://fortune.com/2014/06/26/monsanto-gmo-crops/), about 80% of US corn and 90% of US soybeans are grown with patented seed traits from one single company -- Monsanto.
The science behind GMOs are fine. The situation with GMOs being patentable IP, and the monopolization of the market that has resulted from this, to me is rather worrying.
- alexwebb2 9y agoIf a company spends millions upon millions in R&D to come up with something that makes their customers dramatically more productive, I think it's fitting that they should be able to patent it and reap the rewards of their investment. That's how we encourage that kind of innovation - with the potential for massive windfalls. It works. I do have a bit of wariness in the back of my mind about the long-term ramifications of setting the precedent that companies can own genetic patterns. I don't think anybody knows quite what the knock-on effects of that might be in twenty or thirty years... but I also don't know how we can protect and encourage this kind of innovation without granting those exclusive rights.