Goats in the Garden: When will it End?

February 11, 2010

When will it End?

When I first heard that Monsanto at one time was trying to put a patent on pigs I thought it was a joke. Apparently, it wasn't a joke at all. This video brings the plan to patent the pig or at least pigs with certain genes to light. I would highly encourage people to watch the video and learn more about the corporations that control much of the food people eat.

Monsanto who apparently gets so much bad press and criticism they have an entire section of their website called "for the record" dedicated to slippery explanations for their policies and actions (such as their lawsuits against farmers, but that is another can of worms which they would probably try to patent in some way...if there was money in worms that is.) have this statement about their pig patent on their website. It says that Monsanto sold all their swine related patents, patent applications and other related intellectual property to Newsham Genetics LC of West Des Moines, Iowa in November of 2007.

According to a 2007 article on the Porkmag.com website "as part of the agreement, the two companies have established a three-year research alliance. It will focus on technology and the genomics platform to maximize the value created in the industry from these tools".

“We’re pleased Newsham Genetics is acquiring this business and will continue to advance the genomic and marker technology platform for the swine industry,” says Kevin Holloway, president of Monsanto’s animal agriculture unit. “The research alliance illustrates that Newsham is committed to continuing genomic research and harvesting the rich pipeline that Monsanto Choice Genetics has developed.”

I am no expert, fact is I never owned a pig in my life. I am just a concerned goat farmer who thinks we should all be aware and concerned about these sort of things. It sounds to me like different owner, same problem. That problem is that when powerful corporations try to patent living animals for big profits and even more control over the food that we eat, they only ask if they can... never if they should. What will be next, sheep...goats? So we all should be asking; when will it end and what are we going to do about it?

Contact Elected Officials
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Organic Consumers Association
http://www.organicconsumers.org/

This is my personal blog...and its written words are my opinions.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...: wow...I never could have even imagined. thanks for posting!; February 11, 2010 at 9:28 PM
Kelly Cook said...: It is scary. Why have we allowed them to get as far as they have? Complacency and ignorance, of which I have been guilty of the latter for too long, are the likely biggest culprits.

I'd like to link back to this on my blog. Mind if I do?; February 11, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Jennifer said...: Thank you both for your comments. No, Kelly that is perfectly fine if you would like to link this on your blog.; February 12, 2010 at 12:35 AM
Species 8472 said...: I think farmers in the eu have filed to overthrow the patent - poss. American farmers have, or should do the same.; February 12, 2010 at 2:24 AM
KathyB. said...: It is the same for seeds and plants too...this is all a bit scary but as with most people, so much of this is news to us and seems to be careening out of control faster than most of us can handle, as is the whole political landscape of our country...so many changes , coming so quickly, and many, many people are struggling to just pay their bills and make sense of how to adapt or react to simple but devastating changes affecting all of the way we live, thanks for the heads up and education.

(Patenting life? Seems blasphemous doesn't it? Remember Dr. Frankenstein!); February 12, 2010 at 3:47 AM
Sandy said...: Thanks for the info. Sounds sketchy at best.; February 12, 2010 at 4:08 PM
Leslie said...: So bizarre and scary that it shouldn't be real, but it is. I am disgusted by greed and what it will make people do. This is something everyone should know is happening right here in the US and that a few powerful people are willing to sacrifice human health in the process. Thanks for bringing it up! The video was very informative.; February 12, 2010 at 4:43 PM
Anonymous said...: I have been following Monsanto and all it's evil for awhile now. The small farmers cannot fight them. Several have tried losing everything they own. Losing the farm and all savings trying to fight. What we need is for someone like Oprah or Bill Gates to make a difference fighting them. It is going to take their money to fight them and they will probalbly lose all of it in the fight. I do believe if they put up the money for the fight that everyone will become aware and then the millions of people will be fighting them as well by being able to make the choice of not supporting them at the grocery store. Oh my so much to be talk about on this subject. Our goal right now should be to bring this to the attention of Oprah and many other wealthy people who have the money to help with the fight. It we do not stop them we are up a creek without a paddle. Just another reason to be self sufficient and support Homesteaders and small farmers. Of course if Monsanto gets their way they will be able to come on to the Homesteaders property and take what they have and stop us from growing food because they have patents on everything. Everyone must post this on their blog, facebook, etc....to help make people more aware of what is going on.; February 12, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Alison said...: "It will focus on technology and the genomics platform to maximize the value created in the industry from these tools".

What the hell does this jargon have to do with ANIMALS? Digusting!

Let's patent the DNA of Monsanto's execs and make them pay US for the privilege of breeding themselves.; February 12, 2010 at 6:21 PM
Gail said...: Every thing is in the genetic play ground and it is very scary.

That is why so many farmers are going with the old breeds...purity.; February 12, 2010 at 7:13 PM
Allison aka Scooty's Mom said...: Wow...I never knew this but it just seems horrible. What about the every day farmer? Thanks for letting us know about this.; February 15, 2010 at 8:11 PM
Jamie said...: Stopping by to say hi. Love your photos. If you drop by my blog tomorrow you will find an award waiting for you. Have a beautiful day.; February 16, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Aussiemade said...: There has been a case with regard to Monsantos genetic crops where a farmer has lost everything when some of the companies seeds spread into his property and they sued him because his crop now had the companies genetic material in it.

Why not start a campaign to Oprah, or other world wide Celebraties with large followings.; February 17, 2010 at 3:02 AM
amothersheartinwords said...: Nothing surprises me anymore about Monsanto and big agribusiness - all of this and more is what caused my family and I to stop buying commercial meat and dairy. Just the fact that our food is not labeled whether or not it is GMO is astounding.

We (the people) have so much to do, and I'm doing it one day at a time.

We raise our own pigs - for meat.

They are indeed no one's except our creator who made them!!; February 17, 2010 at 6:53 PM
Claudya Martinez said...: It is appalling and terrifying.; February 18, 2010 at 4:37 PM