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hugitout  ·  4277 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Monsanto Patents: How far is too far?

Short answer to your title, Monsanto has already gone too far. Short answer to your question, yes. The fact is "round up ready" soybeans should not be patented in the way it is. Because the soybeans are now a different strain of soybeans. Thats what they should be treated as, a new strain. When you crossbreed varieties to get a new strain, you get something new. You don't "own" it. And you shouldn't. Its a plant, it belongs to the earth. It should belong to everyone. For years farmers have been able to source their own seed from their own farms. Circular system in which the farmer is able to grow this years crop from the remains of last years. This technique has been used since people first started planting crops and growing things! Monsanto should not be allowed to screw with that. Its food, not technology. No one is going out and making counterfeit "round up ready" soybeans. Why bother? Its everywhere already. If you invent, or cross strain or whatever a new crop you should expect farmers to take it and run with it. Farming is a tough enough life as is without Monsanto running around playing "crop police." What they are doing to this old man and countless farmers like him is shameful. Monsanto operates on shady patent law that they basically invented and put, or bought, into law by themselves. Its a monopoly of the worst kind.