Throughout world history, what human beings ate was determined by what
local producers cultivated, and what they planted was determined by
seasonal cycles. After the harvest, farmers reclaimed the seeds so
that they could replant them the following season. Today, however,
these age-old practices that guided countless generations are becoming
extinct. What we eat, the quality of our food, and even the tastes
that we develop are dictated by powerful corporations who are driven
by the profit motive. This book investigates the corporate dominance
of the world’s seed supply. The seed is nature’s gift and the
first link in the food chain. This life form is becoming the exclusive
intellectual property of the corporation. The advent of genetically
modified seeds and strict patent protection accorded to them enable
companies to own the seed even after the farmer has bought, planted,
and harvested the seed. Multinational corporations have a monopoly
control over seeds and the accompanying pesticides which is leading to
monocultures in the food system and the disappearance of traditional
methods of farming. Local producers are forced to buy seeds each year,
thereby fostering a feudalistic relationship of perpetual dependence.
An imbalance of power has emerged and farmers are transformed from
producers to consumers by these new arrangements. The leap to embrace
biotechnology and genetically modified foods has been quite swift and
conducted without the public’s knowledge. The food that our stomachs
ingest may be increasingly bad for us. Case studies from four
developing countries are presented for consideration.
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780739190814
Publisert
2017
Utgiver
Vendor
Lexington Books
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter