Transcript GMOs and the Commons January 2008 Susan Skalka GMOs: Case Study French President Nicolas Sarkozy bans strain of GM corn, citing principle of precaution. France’s Provisional.

GMOs and the Commons
January 2008
Susan Skalka
GMOs: Case Study
French President Nicolas Sarkozy bans
strain of GM corn, citing principle of
precaution.
France’s Provisional High Authority on GM
Organisms was said to have “serious doubts”
about the safety of Mon 810, the only GM
crop grown in France.
Yet, 12 of the scientists who made the report
said that it was misinterpreted.
GMOs: Definition

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Genetically modified organism.
Genetic material is altered using
genetic engineering techniques.
DNA molecules from different
sources are combined in vitro into
one molecule to create a new gene.
This DNA is then transferred into an
organism and causes the
expression of modified or novel
traits.
GMOs: Terminator and Traitor
GURT: Genetic Use Restriction
Technology
 2nd generation seeds are sterile,
so can’t gather seeds for next
year
USDA and Delta & Pine Land received U.S. patent
Monstanto bought Delta and Pine Land (w/ patent), is now
2nd largest seed company, w/1.3 Billion annual revenue for
seeds.
GMOs: The Issues from Both Sides

The company paid for the R&D investments, so it
should get profits.
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The company makes excessive profits (rent?) and the
savings/profits/benefits from the ‘better’ seeds are not
passed on.
If you don’t want these seeds, don’t buy them.

Govt. agencies often dictate that these be used, it is
difficult to keep the seeds separate, and the
economically disadvantaged don’t have a real choice.
Furthermore, food isn’t labeled so isn’t true free market
–market requires available information.
GMOs: The Issues, cont.

The new seeds are better and seed-collecting locks
farmers into old seeds that are not as good or
productive.

The new seeds are dangerous for our ecosystem
and we don’t understand enough about the
(potentially irreversible) damage that they could
cause yet. Therefore we should take precautions.
GMOs: Issues as Related to
Commons
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BioPiracy- Corporate Theft of the Genetic
Resources of the Planet
The Danger is that a few transnational corps.
will gain exclusive control over the whole food
supply chain.
Some argue these patents confer rights
which go far beyond what the ‘inventor’ has
really invented him or her self.
GMOs: Issues as Related to
Commons

Similar to pollution etc, Free Market isn’t
protecting us from the negative
externalities that could result from the use
of GMOs.
• DNA and Genetic Material could be considered part of
the Commons and thus should be shared, and companies
should not profit from use of our shared common resource.
• What about the investment made to investigate and
use the information – how should that be
compensated? In a more fair way?
Discussion
Questions?