3 ms·

Whelp, I predict he will come to regret is decision. Either that or this is just a PR farce and it wasn't really about climate idealism to being with. Any comp

Whelp, I predict he will come to regret is decision. Either that or this is just a PR farce and it wasn't really about climate idealism to being with. Any company based around 'owning' biological progeny into subsequent generations on the basis of parents' genetics is too offensive and bile inducing to have a good side... If the company is successful I sure can't imagine this turning out any other way than Monsanto holding farmers hostage over the climate and weather just like they do now over seeds.

jrkelly 13y ago
Seed companies have been 'owning biological progeny' since the invention of hybrid seeds in the 1920s.
- Glyptodon 13y ago
  With hybrid seeds you don't need arbitrary patent ownership to necessitate a producer, you naturally need companies operating in a near-perfect-competition situation to produce the seed as successive generations become genetically erratic and no longer cleanly express the 'hybrid vigor' if you attempt to reuse the seed. In fact much of these kinds of researches and developments originated in public/land grant universities and were part of a the ROI of public research and were successfully spread and marketed without single entity IP ownership (specialized hybridizing just isn't patentable). So your comment and claim is pretty much completely false.
  - jrkelly 13y ago
    I might not be following you, but it sounded like you were worried about farmers losing the right to save seeds due to Monsanto patents. Seed saving largely ended with hybrid seeds in the 20s. Is there something else you were trying to say?
    - twic 13y ago
      To be clear: it ended for maize, because that's the only crop routinely grown with hybrid seeds. Seed saving is still done for everything else.
      - TheSpiceIsLife 13y ago
        Australia grows a lot of hybrid wheat, and it's sought after on the global market due to it's higher than usual protein content.
    - mcv 13y ago
      Seed saving never ended. A lot of farmers all over the world still rely on it.
climateanon 13y ago
They apparently have a > 90% approval rating amongst US Farmers for what it's worth. They're generally seen to be a solid investment by most farmers. This is what I'm told from internal statistics, so if it's entirely possible it's a bald face lie. If you have statistics to the contrary I'd love to bring it up our company meeting and get back to you, personally or here. Disclosure: I'm a Climate Corp Employee.
- Glyptodon 13y ago
  Hey, Kool-Aid has a 90% approval rating among Kool-Aid drinkers... When water problems start becoming more widespread, problems with much of the current system will be more obvious, so to be fair this is an amazing hedge for Monsanto. I'm also conflating to some extent high-yield strains with GM strains, but the overlap is pretty huge so consider it minor.
  - climateanon 13y ago
    I've been told that a lot of their work on drought resistance is having good preliminary impacts on reducing water consumption. They've also purchased us at least in part because of the work we're doing on Climate Pro which is a tool to provide agricultural management for things like irrigation. But again, give me studies and specific questions and I'll have answers from either the CEO or COO by Friday.
shoyer 13y ago
Holding farmers hostage over the weather? I think the weather does a fine job of holding farmers hostage already. It's hard to see how providing more information about weather and corresponding farming best practices (i.e., what Climate does) could be used to hold anybody hostage. If you don't like their products, you can simply not buy them next year. They are certainly not actively manipulating the weather (which is barely effective, anyways). Disclaimer: I work for Climate.
- mcv 13y ago
  I don't think he meant to cast any doubt on the work Climate has been doing so far. I think he's worries about what Climate might become in the hands of Monsanto. I hope Friedberg is correct in Climate remaining independent in its operation.

jrkelly 13y ago

Seed companies have been 'owning biological progeny' since the invention of hybrid seeds in the 1920s.

Glyptodon 13y ago
With hybrid seeds you don't need arbitrary patent ownership to necessitate a producer, you naturally need companies operating in a near-perfect-competition situation to produce the seed as successive generations become genetically erratic and no longer cleanly express the 'hybrid vigor' if you attempt to reuse the seed. In fact much of these kinds of researches and developments originated in public/land grant universities and were part of a the ROI of public research and were successfully spread and marketed without single entity IP ownership (specialized hybridizing just isn't patentable). So your comment and claim is pretty much completely false.
- jrkelly 13y ago
  I might not be following you, but it sounded like you were worried about farmers losing the right to save seeds due to Monsanto patents. Seed saving largely ended with hybrid seeds in the 20s. Is there something else you were trying to say?
  - twic 13y ago
    To be clear: it ended for maize, because that's the only crop routinely grown with hybrid seeds. Seed saving is still done for everything else.
    - TheSpiceIsLife 13y ago
      Australia grows a lot of hybrid wheat, and it's sought after on the global market due to it's higher than usual protein content.
  - mcv 13y ago
    Seed saving never ended. A lot of farmers all over the world still rely on it.

climateanon 13y ago

They apparently have a > 90% approval rating amongst US Farmers for what it's worth. They're generally seen to be a solid investment by most farmers. This is what I'm told from internal statistics, so if it's entirely possible it's a bald face lie. If you have statistics to the contrary I'd love to bring it up our company meeting and get back to you, personally or here. Disclosure: I'm a Climate Corp Employee.

Glyptodon 13y ago
Hey, Kool-Aid has a 90% approval rating among Kool-Aid drinkers... When water problems start becoming more widespread, problems with much of the current system will be more obvious, so to be fair this is an amazing hedge for Monsanto. I'm also conflating to some extent high-yield strains with GM strains, but the overlap is pretty huge so consider it minor.
- climateanon 13y ago
  I've been told that a lot of their work on drought resistance is having good preliminary impacts on reducing water consumption. They've also purchased us at least in part because of the work we're doing on Climate Pro which is a tool to provide agricultural management for things like irrigation. But again, give me studies and specific questions and I'll have answers from either the CEO or COO by Friday.

shoyer 13y ago

Holding farmers hostage over the weather? I think the weather does a fine job of holding farmers hostage already. It's hard to see how providing more information about weather and corresponding farming best practices (i.e., what Climate does) could be used to hold anybody hostage. If you don't like their products, you can simply not buy them next year. They are certainly not actively manipulating the weather (which is barely effective, anyways). Disclaimer: I work for Climate.

mcv 13y ago
I don't think he meant to cast any doubt on the work Climate has been doing so far. I think he's worries about what Climate might become in the hands of Monsanto. I hope Friedberg is correct in Climate remaining independent in its operation.