Strong-Arm+Tactics+of+Corporate+Conglomerate+Monsanto

Patrick M. Coady sucks major salty penis
"Monsanto," is a company who specializes in the production and genetic alteration of seed. Their patented genes are being inserted into 95% and 80% of all soybean and corn grown in America, respectively. This article looks at some of Monsanto's confidential contracts with its smaller subsidiaries and independent seed growers who employ the use of their patented products. It dives into how they are using sorts of strong-arming tactics in order to keep control of their near-monopolistic business plan; they control over 90% of all seed genetics in this country.

Monsanto was first put on the market with their introduction of the pesticide "Roundup," now, an industry standard, along with many other patented products. They are using their powerful stance to further distribute their products, building upon their already massive amounts of capital. The decline in competition in this industry will obviously affect any consumer of foods containing soybeans or corn - monopoly is not good for a market as simple and essential as is the food market - everyone needs to eat!

Detailed (30 page) reports released by Monsanto describe the advantages of purchasing their altered seed - it is resilient to the herbicide "Roundup" - also made by Monsanto. They have given 200 smaller companies rights to use their patented product in seed-growth, but at a price, of course. Contracts set forth by the conglomerate basically eliminate the competition - not allowing cross-breeding - without their express written consent. In light of this, the U.S. Dept. of Justice is investigating their practices, seeing if Monsanto is, in fact, violating U.S. Anti-Trust laws. But they deny all negativity projected upon their company. Spokespeople working for this conglomerate are resilient to comment, saying they only promote competition within their market.

Companies who have dealt with Monsanto claim they have been strong-armed, and the last five years have shown dramatic rise in seed prices. Their near-monopoly affords them a very large window of opportunity to do thing of this nature, however. Corn seed has gone up 25% in one year, as well as soybean prices rising an astonishing 28% - something that directly affects a majority of the world's population. Monsanto goes further to insert clauses into their contracts with these smaller, independently owned farms which rely on their technologies to operate. These clauses give Monsanto the right to destroy all Monsanto related products rightfully owned, if ownership of that company is changed or if confidentiality clauses are violated. Monsanto also offers major rebates to reel-in their subjected customers, often dissipating these rebates soon after they have secured business transactions, and contracts have been signed.

Some farmers/buyers have began to stand up to Monsanto, because they realize the propaganda of this giant corporation, and do not want to be held down by their ridiculous contracts - however, some stay with the company because abandoning their products will ensure failure for that specific company. Iowa and Texas state officials were investigating Monsanto and its business tactics at the time of this article's release (12/14/09).

Reference: -Ap: monsanto strong-arms seed industry. (2009). //CBS News//, Retrieved from []