If the gene that creates Bt-toxin in GM corn were to transfer, it might turn our

intestinalbacteria into living pesticide factories.Although no studies have evaluated if

antibiotic or Bt-toxin genes transfer, that is one of the keyproblems. The safety assessments
are too superficial to even identify most of the potentialdangers from GMOs.
Seed Monopoly
The seed is the most important input in agriculture; it is the beginning or source of a plant.
Itspractical purpose is for the propagation and multiplication of crops. As such, a seed is
anyplanting material, whether true seed (i.e., product of fertilization) or not. Therefore the
one whocontrols the seed controls agriculture.Traditional agriculture knowledge and systems
have a scientific basis, and over generations,farmers have perfected their practices in all
aspects of agriculture including developing new cropvarieties by closely following natural
practices. But if there is one thing farmers have not donethemselves, it is developing new
varieties through artificial or induced means. Indeed, producingnew varieties through genetic
manipulation has for long been the sole preserve of agriculturalresearch institutions and agro-
chemical companies that have placed a veil of secrecy over the
technology under the pretext of it being “scientifically strict and technically difficult”. This
absolute control over seed research and multiplication has allowed them to totally dominate
themarket imposing an alien, high-input, monoculture-predominant agriculture.Seed industry
concentration has resulted from major pesticide manufacturers like Monsanto,DuPont, Bayer
and Dow monopolizing
the world’s seed supply,
with several negative impacts:1) Use of genetic engineering to make pesticide-promoting GM
crops, harming the environment;2) Reduction/elimination of conventional seeds, giving
farmers little choice but to buy GMseeds; 3) Astronomical prices for GM seeds and the
pesticides used with them which burdenfarmers financially; 4)
Monsanto’s patents on seeds permit prosecution of farmers for seed