We need to spread the word that this is going on and to encourage our friends, colleagues and customers to be active.
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- To: panups@igc.apc.org
- Subject: PANUPS:Terminator Technology
- From: panupdates@igc.apc.org
- Date: Fri, 09 Oct 1998 15:52:37 -0700 (PDT)
===================================== P A N U P S *** Pesticide Action Network North America Updates Service http://www.panna.org/panna/ email panna@panna.org ===================================== Monsanto in Negotiations with USDA to Finalize Control of Terminator Technology October 9, 1998 The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) has launched an international campaign to stop negotiations between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a subsidiary of Monsanto regarding the "Terminator" technology. Terminator technology -- co- developed by USDA and Delta & Pine Land Co. and partially financed with U.S. taxpayer dollars -- will force farmers to return to the commercial seed market every year since they will no longer be able to save seed from their harvest. This technology enables a company to genetically alter seed to produce crops that in turn produce sterile seed. Delta & Pine Land Co. (D&PL) and the USDA received the patent on Terminator technology in March 1998. In May, Monsanto announced that it would acquire Delta & Pine Land Co. for US$1.8 billion. Monsanto, which recently merged with American Home Products, is now the world's largest agrochemical corporation and second largest seed company. Monsanto's total 1996 revenues were US$9.26 billion, and the company's genetically engineered crops are expected to be used on approximately 50 million acres worldwide in 1998. Currently, Monsanto's subsidiary Delta & Pine Land is negotiating with USDA to have an exclusive license on the U.S. government's share in the Terminator technology patent. The patent is broad, applying to plants and seeds of all species, including both transgenic (genetically engineered) and conventionally-bred seeds. Since D&PL worked with USDA to develop the technology, the company has the option to negotiate an exclusive license under U.S. law. RAFI is asking everyone concerned about the use of Terminator technology to urge U.S. government officials to stop negotiations with Monsanto's subsidiary and to halt all commercial development of this technology. Melvin J. Oliver, a USDA molecular biologist and primary inventor of the Terminator, explained why the U.S. government developed a technology that prohibits farmers from saving proprietary seed: "My main interest is protection of American technology. Our mission is to protect U.S. agriculture, and to make us competitive in the face of foreign competition. Without this, there is no way of protecting the technology [patented seed]." The potential impact of the Terminator technology goes far beyond U.S. borders. It is an international issue with global implications. Delta & Pine Land has said that it will target the use of Terminator seeds in developing countries, where over 1.4 billion people -- primarily poor farmers -- depend on farm-saved seed as their primary seed source. They have indicated that they will apply for patents in 87 countries around the world. The patent is pending at the European Patent Office, in Canada, Australia, Japan and South Africa. The Terminator technology is the subject of controversy and debate worldwide. For example: In May, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity recommended that the precautionary principle be applied to the Terminator technology. The Conference also directed its scientific body to examine the technology's impact on farmers and biodiversity. India's agriculture minister Som Pal told the Indian parliament in August that he has banned the import of seeds containing the Terminator gene because of the potential harm to Indian agriculture. By majority vote, the Dutch Parliament recently moved to oppose the European Patent Directive by appealing to the European Court of Justice. The Terminator patent is one of the key issues that prompted the Dutch to renew objections to the Patent Directive that was passed by the European Parliament earlier this year. RAFI is urging government institutions to take steps to safeguard -- not eliminate -- the fundamental right of farmers to save seed and breed crops. RAFI is also calling for protest over the fact that public research funds were used to develop a technology that will bring no agronomic benefit to farmers, and no benefits to consumers. Negotiations between USDA and MonsantoUs subsidiary are now underway. To see sample letters, and automatic sending options as well as additional information on Terminator technology, go to RAFI's web site: http://www.rafi.org/usda.html. Email messages and/or faxes can be sent to the following USDA official and members of Congress. The Honorable Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture Email agsec@usda.gov; fax (202) 720-2166 The Honorable Robert F. Smith, Chair House Agriculture Committee Email Bob.smith@mail.house.gov; fax (202) 225-0917 The Honorable Richard G. Lugar, Chair Senate Agriculture Committee Email senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov; fax (202) 224-1725 Source/contact: Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), P.O. Box 640, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312; phone (919) 542-1396; fax (919) 542-0069; email rafiusa@rafi.org; web site www.rafi.ca. ====================================================== Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) 49 Powell St., Suite 500, San Francisco, California 94102 Phone (415) 981-1771 Fax (415) 981-1991 Email: panna@panna.org web site www.panna.org/panna/ To subscribe to PANUPS, email to majordomo@igc.org with the following text on one line: subscribe panups To unsubscribe send the following: unsubscribe panups ======================================================
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