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market-farming - Re: Monsanto vs Schmeiser

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  • From: "Del Williams" <delannw AT dlogue.net>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Monsanto vs Schmeiser
  • Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 07:58:54 -0500


Let me get this straight and please correct me on the facts.

Through a traditional seed selection program Schmeiser sprayed some of his
canola plants with RoundUp and saved the seed from the plants that survived.
He planted those seeds and was sued by Monsanto for growing their patented
seed.

He did not buy or steal Round Up Ready Canola seed from Monsanto or any
other farmer. Correct?

Or was his field pollinated by adjoining fields of RUR canola. And he just
saved and planted his seed as he usually does. It just happened that they
developed RoundUp resistant properties.

----Either way, Schmeiser didn't do anything wrong as far as I am concerned.
And, Monsanto's lawsuit against him has no merit. Schmeiser needs to hire
better attorneys/

Here's a thought. Suppose you have a cherry tree and it's branches hang
over my property line. If I go pick the cherries hanging over my fence,
have I stolen from you?

Better yet, suppose that I know your corn has some desirable characteristics
but I can't afford to buy the seed. So in a seed development program, I
select from a field that is grown right next to yours. Over a few years, my
corn has developed some of the fine characteristics of yours. Since I never
came into your field and took any of your corn, have I stolen from you or
the company that sold you the seed?

My belief is that unless Schmeiser literally stole seed, there shouldn't be
any case against him at all. This is not the USDA or the EPA or the FDA's
fault (he's in Canada, after all). This is nothing more than the result of
a corporation that has unscrupulous business tactics. How is it that you
can own your pollen and prosecute people whose crops start showing some of
the characteristics of your developed plants? That has got to be the basis
here. Monsanto owns their pollen. They ought to be responsible for the
pollen they spread.

Del Williams
Farmer in the Del
Clifton IL










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