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Re: [Fwd: Disturbing news]

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Hi Mary D,
   I believe this is called terminator technology. Its a gene that prevents
a plants from developing viable seed. The seeds saved from these plants
will not sprout. The advantage to seed companies is that they can more
closely control who grows and sells the plants they develope, increases
revenue because farmers and gardeners wont be able to grow crops from saved
seed with this gene, decreases loss of stored grains and seed due to
sprouting while in storage and spoiling. I can understand a company wanting
to protect its products. Thats just fine with me-I wont buy anything but
heirloom, open pollinated and non f1 hybrid seed. Im not even mildly
interested in seeds that dont breed true and surely not interested in
growing plants that wont have viable seed. Monsanto can keep their seed. 
  Here are some sources of information on this:

A Seedy Business 
A new "terminator" technology will make crops sterile and force farmers to
buy seeds more often—so why did the
USDA invent it?
http://www.motherjones.com/news_wire/broydo.html

Monsanto In Closed Talks With USDA To Finalize Terminator Control:
 http://www.organicmarket.com/news/terminator.htm

  I am learning how to do square foot gardening because it will allow me to
save some money and enjoy the pleasure of gardening-same reason I save seed. 
Even if they gave the seeds with the terminator gene away Id not grow it.
Im sure it will be cheap to buy in the short term-but its the long term I
worry about-and nothing is as economical as saving and trading seeds for me.
gentle day,
Lisa B 
 


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