[Dialogue] harry's article on genetic seed patents

[Colleen Smith]

I find that article very frightening and short sighted and short memory.  Several years ago as part of a HDP training school in Lorimor, we visited the Pioneer seed company.  We learned several things, one was that it takes many years to develop a new seed, ergo only those seeds that promised great profit and not those that promised great nutrition were developed.  More shocking was the learning that all of the commercial seeds are petro -chemical dependent.  Dependent on specific petro chemicals for fertilizing and pest control. These seeds are non reproductive.  You can't save a few seeds from the plant for next years crop.  They aintgoing to grow, they're sterile.  During the early 80's the ICA in Denver participated with Colorado in finding seeds that were natural to the terrain and encouraging diversity of crops.  In Tonga the ICA worked with department of agriculture to plan for and develop ways of inter cropping and for diversity.  
  I live in the US because of the great potato famine.  I lost my job as a teen when sugar beets were infected with some kind of grub and the sugar beet industry in Utah went belly up.  Then there was the pear blight and on it goes.
  Going back to a few seed patents what happens when the oil runs out, or they get hit by some new disease of the farmer can no longer afford them?
  And how do we stop this madness?
  Colleen

       
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