GMO Seeds, Pt. 1: The truth about GMO’s, Monsanto and Burpee Seed

Philadelphia Organic Food Stores are seeing "green" due to the rising alarm about GMO's. GMO seeds are a hot topic in today’s gardening, environmental, agricultural, and farming industries; it’s also a very controversial and extremely important issue that affects most of us; because 70% percent or more of the food we eat is grown from genetically engineered seed. (1) The Philadelphia based Burpee Seed Company continues to come under fire about allegedly buying and selling GMO seed; although it is far from the truth.

What is a GMO seed?

A GMO seed is a brand of gene-modified seeds that make plants resistant against the herbicide Roundup, made by Monsanto; and Roundup kills most plant life. Not only is 70% of the food we eat grown from seed that has been genetically altered to stand up to Roundup, but we’re buying the seed itself to plant in our own gardens.

The Dangers of GMO Seed

How are GMO seeds genetically altered and what harm are GMO’s to humans? Bad Seed reports the following: “Genetically engineered plants have had either genes from bacteria or viruses, or genes that make plants resistant to toxic chemicals like the herbicide Roundup — spliced into their DNA. These genes were never part of the human diet until the first GMO plant was created in 1996.” (2) The dangers of the human consumption of GMO foods, as well as GMO seed are alarming. In an online article entitled 50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods, Author Pakalert says, “…much of GM technology is directed at eliminating surrounding biological environment – competing animals and plants by soaking them with lethal toxins. Secondly, there are terminator plants and suicide seeds that do not reproduce a second generation.” (3) Of course, this forces the farmers to purchase new seed each year, which is putting many of them out of business and allowing Monsanto to take control of the farming industry.

Who is Monsanto?

Monsanto is a United States based, multi-national, agricultural, biotechnology corporation, located in Missouri, that produces the herbicide "Roundup." Monsanto is also the leading producer of genetically engineered(GE) seed; it provides the technology in 90% of the world's genetically engineered seeds. And finally, Monsanto is well known for poisoning the planet with chemicals such as Agent Orange and DDT(4); and now, they are trying to patent seeds, plants and food so they can take control of the food industry. Behind the food curtain, Monsanto genetically engineers plants that have had either genes from bacteria or viruses, or genes that make plants resistant to toxic chemicals like the herbicide Round Up, their own product, in their makeup.

In conclusion; seventy percent of our food is genetically engineered, and Monsanto, makers of Round-up, is the leader, the author, and the finisher of our food fate; unless you buy non-GMO seed from companies that do not sell GMO seed (see list below) and grow your own food, or buy organic whenever possible. For Philadelphia city dwellers and non-gardeners, cick here for a list of Philadelphia Organic Food Stores.

The Burpee Seed Company’s Chairman and CEO,George Ball, Jr., has posted the following on the Burpee Website, “We do NOT sell GMO seed, never have in the past, and will not sell it in the future.” (5)

Click here for: GMO Seeds, Part 2: The Truth about Burpee and GMO's

Other Companies who Claim to Sell Safe Seed:

Mail-order seed companies that have signed the Safe Seed Pledge

Companies that sell only safe seed but have not signed the safe seed pledge

The 2010 Organic Seed Suppliers List

State-wide Organic Seed Suppliers List

For more on Monsanto and what the Food Industry doesn’t want you to know:

Click here for a list of GMO food crops grown in the US

Click here for 10 Ways to Take Action Against Monsanto

Click here for “Monsanto GMO Ignites Big Seed War”

Food. Inc. Video Trailer

Food, Inc. Video Challenges Monsanto Industry 2010 – ABC World News.com

Food, Inc. Video Re-Think Review

The Care2.com Petition to bring down Monsanto

Click here to Purchase Food, Inc. from Amazon

Click here to Rent Food Inc. online for 48 hours from Amazon

References:

(1) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bring-down-monsanto-monopoly/

(2) http://www.badseed.info/0-22520-gmos--be-concerned-be-very-concerned.html

(3) pakalert.wordpress.com/2009/05/10/50-harmful-effects-of-genetically-modified-gm-foods/

(4) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto

(5) www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/burpee-gmo-and-monsanto-rumors-put...

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