Sir, The current debate about genetically engineered plants is interesting, but I would like to approach it a little differently.
Roundup, the weedkiller in question, is generally recognised as one of the safest and I have no quibble with that. Producing food plants which are resistant to it is a great idea. However, glyphosate (the active ingredient) is a plant hormone, many millions of years old. Monsanto didn't invent it. The gene which brings resistance is probably nearly as old as the hormone glyphosate. The scientists merely shunted it from one organism to another.
Because other plant breeders in America and Europe don't have use of this gene, suddenly all of their varieties are "old hat". Many of their varieties are undoubtedly superior in other respects to the new seeds with this gene. Much of the genetic variety of food plants will disappear as Monsanto seeds dominate. Many more weed types will be defeated too. I have seen the number of weed types dwindle rapidly on my father's firm in my lifetime. One which still survives, we know as `lambs' quarters". One thousand five hundred years ago, it was an important part of the human diet in the British isles.
In the tough genetic competition of today, I have no doubt that the glyphosate resistant gene will wipe the thousands of genes of this weed and others like it off this planet. A thousand small seed companies around the world might save some of this genetic material. One big one cannot. What is happening is every bit as bad, in the long term, as the slaughter of whales. (Worse for the future of mankind).
Monsanto has too big of an advantage here. They will win. Everyone and everything else will lose. The rules must be changed and their monopoly must be broken. The future will be much the better for it. - Yours, etc.,
Fitzroy Avenue,
Dublin 3.