Profits Before People? Tell Monsanto To Protect Farmers’ Livelihoods By Allowing Seed Replantation

Human Rights, Petitions — By Gabriela Seplovich on October 17, 2011 5:34 pm

Target: Hugh Grant- President of Monsanto Co.

Goal: Protect international farmers livlihood’s by allowing seasonal seed replantation

Most of us are aware of the ruthless business tactics practiced by the multinational agricultural biotech corporation, Monsanto. Dumping toxic waste and polluting waterways; producing dangerous industrial coolants that are harmful to our environments and our bodies; and altering study results to keep the dangers of their products secret from the public, are just a few of the behaviors that have made Monsanto notorious. Quite possibly the worst of their offenses is the patents they’ve put on their seeds, which has resulted in the inability for small farmers to continue practicing their livelihoods.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court gave corporations the green light to patent seeds, therefore giving control over a common life form to a man made entity. Since then, Monsanto has spent over $8 billion buying up the international seed market for both organic and inorganic growers. Subsequently, Monsanto forces it’s customers- a large percentage of farmers worldwide- to sign a contract that forbids the reuse of their seeds from season to season. Though the saving and replanting of seeds has been a technique practiced by farmers for centuries due to its ability to yield a healthier harvest, Monsanto has forced farmers to give up this timely tradition in the name of corporate greed.  Now farmers must rely on Monsanto, and pay their exorbitant prices for products that they don’t necessary need.

Farmers everywhere are crying out for help against this corporate giant. In 2009, it was reported by the UK Independent that at least 200,000 Indian farmers committed suicide within the decade as a result of this new-found inability to sustain themselves and their families. Death by hanging, drowning, and even intoxication via Monsanto’s products were just some of the tactics used by these individuals in consequence of the devastating and mounting debt they were faced with.

To add insult to injury, Monsanto’s website claims to support fair and sustainable agriculture. They allege to “help farmers improve their quality of life, including 5 million people in resource-poor farm families by 2020″. Unfortunately, they’re overlooking the fact that the outrageous restrictions on their clients will prohibit them from improving their quality life. More accurately, it stunts their quality of life. Join me in telling Monsanto to live up to it’s corporate responsibility claim and give up their brutal, unjust sales tactics that in some cases is costing farmers their lives.

PETITION LETTER

Dear Hugh Grant (President of Monsanto Co.),

I am aware of your website claim that Monsanto practices international corporate responsibility and aims to be a fair player in the international game of sales. I do not think that you are living up to this claim due to the austere restrictions you implement on the farmers who buy your seeds. Despite the age-old tradition of replanting seeds from season to season to produce a healthy yield, you are forcing farmers to buy your seeds for every new harvest. Not only is this a major environmental waste that can and has been avoided for generations, it binds small farmers into a cycle of debt that can be difficult, sometimes impossible, to overcome. In consequence, the rate of related suicides (especially in India) in 2009 sky-rocketed as farmers were unable to continue supporting themselves and their families.

On your website, you claim to “help farmers improve their quality of life, including 5 million people in resource-poor farm families by 2020.” By forcing small farmers to prematurely buy your seeds, you are systematically working to hinder their quality of life. These small farmers are no threat to your multi- million dollar corporation and yet your policies are working to put them out of business and therefore out of work and into poverty.

I urge you to live up to your claim of corporate responsibility and be an honorable example to your peers as a global corporate leader. Do so by relaxing the restrictions on farmers who buy your seeds (i.e. allow them to replant their seeds seasonally) so that they have a decent chance to continue practicing their trade.

Sincerely,

[Your name appears here]