Monsanto Harvest Of Fear Summary

People acquired food by buying foods in fast foods, local markets, or harvest their own crops. People are not the only one’s harvesting their own crops, farmers also cultivate their own produce without total autonomy. In the article, “Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear” by Donald L.Barlett and James B. Steele investigate the role that the Monsanto corporation and the legal system take in American food production. Foods that are put on dinner tables are manipulated by Monsanto’s food corporation by manipulating farmers to sell genetically modified foods under contract, sending investigators to farm fields to strike fear on farmers, and the F.D.A allowing Monsanto’s food corporation monopolize the food industry.

Over the years, Monsanto has gained control

ofthe food business industry bymanipulating farmers to sell genetically modified (G.M.) foods.

The text “Monsanto’s Harvest ofFear” describes one manner in which farmers are manipulated : Farmers that buy the G.M. seeds must sign a contract with Monsanto stating that farmers cannot save seeds to produce after each year re-­planting, or sell the seeds to other farmers. If farmers do not follow the rules of the contract then there will be a breach of contract and Monsanto will file a lawsuit against any farmer that violates the contract and will take anything away from the farmer. Another manner Monsanto maneuvers farmers to gain control by manipulating farmers into a lawsuit. There are many cases where the G.M. seeds do land in another farmer’s property because of the change of weather such as strong winds, some seeds do end up in another farmer’s field and this gives Monsanto the impression that a farmer had stolen Monsanto’s property Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele argue. Although the seeds are identical, the difference is determine by a laboratory, says Donald L Barlett and James B. Steele. Monsanto has also gained control by sending investigators to farm fields to strike fear on farmers. Court documents have revealed that many farmers are under surveillance by Monsanto’s

private investigators and agents to strike fear into farmers country says the text Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear.

These private investigators run out the country and secretly videotape and photograph farmers, store owners, and co­ops; and gain access to community meetings. The investigators gather up all this information from informants about farming activities and that others pretend to be surveyors. Other investigators confront farmers on their land and try to pressure farmers to sign a paper that gives Monsanto access to their private records. Monsanto does not always ask for access to a farmer’s field rather they trespass a farmer's property says farmer Troy Roush, The World According to Monsanto film. The F.D.A has allowed Monsanto food corporation monopolize the food industry. Donald L. Berlett and James B. Steele says, the F.D.A in 1993 approved commercial use for theuse of rBST which allows the company to market artificial hormone. The problem with rBST is harmful to cows because it speeds up the cow's metabolism and they can easily develop a painful illness which will shorten the cow's life says Jeff Kleinpeter Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear. Another manner the F.D.A allows Monsanto to monopolize the food industry : to prevent a collapse in prices. In 1994 Monsanto began to sell a supplement called Posilac which Monsanto is aware ofthe possible side effects of rBST for cows

can lead to disorder of the uterus, increas body temperature, digestive problems, and birthing difficulties. Veterinarian drug reports state that injecting cows with Posilac are at risk for an increase of mastitis and the udder infection inwhich bacteria and pus may be pumped out with the milk, says the text Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear. The F.D.A. had responded to the public that milk that is produced by cows that received rBST is the same as for other cows that are not injected. According to Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, it has been nearly 15 years after the F.D.A approved of rBGH, there has not been further studies whether rBGH is safe for milk from cows that receive artificial growth hormone.
As shown the evidence in Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear it maneuvers farmers, G.M. seeds, F.D.A, and the investigators to rule over the food business industry. Most of the time the foods that people purchase cannot be trusted. Farmers and consumers should march to the government to overthrown Monsanto’s food corporation.