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Re: Natural seeds become sterile?

Mark wrote, in part:
>What intrigues me as much as any such doomsday scenario is the motivation
>behind this. )-: Quote: "The USDA wants the technology to be "widely
>licensed and made expeditiously available to many seed companies," says
>Phelps. The goal is "to increase the value of proprietary seed owned by US
>seed companies and to open up new markets in Second and Third World
>countries." I find myself wondering whether third world countries need
>increased market-driven western interference with their food production.
>Can't help feeling the thing smacks of selling powdered milk to African
>mothers; providing loans for hydro-electric dams which effectively bleed
>countries cash-dry; and other ill-conceived schemes; as I can't see what
>would the benefit to the countries concerned would be.

The motivation behind selling Third World such altered seeds is that they
would then be attatched to the major seed companies and need to buy seed
every year, thus increasing sales for the seed co. The idea is like the
ones sited above and I, for one, find it horrific that a few major, mega
corporations are able to do this. As a member of the Seed Savers Exchange,
I do know that people will always save and share seed as they can. The
cross pollination issue is an interesting one and has not been dealt with
by the seed producers as far as I can tell.

Any one who wants copies of the articles pertaining to this issue that were
published in the SSE Summer Edition, please e-mail me privately and I'll
make copies and send them.

Cindy in TX



Cindy in TX, Z8/9
The Herb Cottage
Rt 2  Box 90
Hallettsville, TX
409/562-2153
http://mall6.register.com/herb01
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