Hey everyone. So I'll be honest, for me, this movie was hard to pay attention to at times. Movies I like usually involve comedy or action, not farming. So bear with me while I try to summarize the film 'The Future of Food'.
Summary
Farming always used to be done the same way. Until the 20th century, when chemical fertilizers and insecticides became the new norm. Right away, this film shocked me with a quote. They said 'Nerve gas was modified to make insecticides. Sounds healthy right?
Then Round Up comes along. Round Up is basically just a weed killer. So Monsanto comes along and makes Round Up ready seeds, meaning they can't be killed by the weed killer. After becoming the first company to patent a seed, the trouble started there. While passing a farmers field, a Monsanto truck filled with seed let some seed fly out of the truck and into his field. The seed mixed some of the farmers crops, creating Round Up ready crops that were not technically the farmers, because Monsanto had their seed patented. Well the farmer didn't know this, Monsanto found out, and sued the farmer.
One other thing of note is labeling. There has been a strong public demand for GMO food to be labeled. Why? Because labeling makes companies liable if anything happens. For instance, someone could be allergic to something in the GMO food, but if it isn't on the label, the person doesn't know that they are about to eat something they are allergic to. This is something I too feel strongly about.
My thoughts
Like I just said, the labeling aspect is something I feel very strong about. I don't know if the law is still in place where companies don't have to put GMO's on labels, but I sure as heck hope so. Otherwise, the whole Monsanto thing is just as disturbing. The fact that you can get in trouble for not knowing that some random seeds flew into your yard is wrong. If you go out and steal patented seeds and put them in your crop, then yes, you are wrong. But if it is all by accident, then I really don't think that person should be held liable.
New Vocab
Germinate - is the process whereby growth emerges from a period of dormancy
GMO - is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques
Monoculture - is the agricultural practice of producing or growing one single crop over a wide area
Superweeds - Any wild plant that has become a hostile plant as a result of acquiring resistance to herbicides through pollination with a genetically modified plant
Transgenic - of, pertaining to, or containing a gene or genes transferred from another species
Posts
Hey Steve-
ReplyDeleteGreat post...I thought you made some good points about the movie. I sure hope they start labeling foods that are GMOs as well. Keep up the good work!
Steve,
ReplyDeleteIf only we knew what the future of eating these foods means to our health, and our future children's health. If a pregnate women eats GMO foods will her fetus become weakened in terms of its immune system, or genetic make-up? Further testing on GMO products is a very important topic. If only the government would require labeling of GMO products. It is soooo scary to think I will be eating GMO foods and not even know it...so when I develop cancer it will be hard to trace because I never knew.
Steve-
ReplyDeleteThe movie was hard for me to pay close attention to as well. It did have a lot of interesting facts though! Great job summarizing the video!
Hey Steve!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with this summary...I know summarizing these documentaries isn't easy but you did a great job.
I think you made some interesting points about the film.
I also hope that they start labeling the genetically modified foods because I would like to know if what I'm eating is genetically modified.
=)
Steve. Great job on summarizing this movie (even if they aren't always really exciting.) I agree with the fact that I don't think it's right for people to get in trouble for something that they have no control over and aren't intentionally trying to do. I find ig a little ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteGreat summary!
Heather
Steve-
ReplyDeleteI agree you can't blame someone, because some seeds blew into their lawn that they had no idea about! That is probably one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard! Good summary!
I'm not sure what the current GMO labeling regulations are, either, but I wish they would be stricter! I've recently been noticing some foods that say "NO GMOs" or something to that effect in bold letters on the front of the product. Unfortunately, I bet we'll never see a huge label that says "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD!", right? I'm pretty certain no one would buy it!
ReplyDeleteSteve-
ReplyDeleteFirst thing first, I appreciate your honesty in your post...admitting that the movie was not your style I thought was really great! I agree whole heatedly with you on the labeling issue like Hannah said above who would bye a GMO product good point Hannah!I also agree that Monsanto, Round up ready weed killer is just overall frustrating ! Great work Steve keep it up:)
Steve,
ReplyDeleteI really like how you wrote your summary like a story...it was entertaining! Hopefully the FDA is in the process of creating more guidlines for product labeling. In the meantime, we need to be wise consumers!
I agree... labeling should be necessary! I'd like to know what I'm eating even if it is a genetically modified food!
ReplyDeleteGood job Steve. I too think this is crazy to think about how people can be punished for growing things they didnt even know, and they were doing something wrong. I found it hard to listen to the poor farmers that had everything taken from them due to this exact fact...SO sad! Nice work Steve :)
ReplyDeleteSteve-
ReplyDeleteGreat post! So many aspects of this film are shocking. I agree about the labeling issue as well and how Monsanto is a little disturbing for doing what they do. It just shows that they truely don't care that much for their customers well-being.
Hey Steve good post! I think it is crazy how they try and control who has their "seed" when there could be many different ways of obtaining it. I don't understand how something like the wind could cause someones whole farm to be destroyed!
ReplyDeleteSteve~ Great post I totally agree with you on how the farmers were getting in trouble for some seed being blown on to their crops...I personally think that Monsanto is just money hungry!! Keep up the great work!!
ReplyDeleteGood post Steve. I agree with you that this film was hard to pay attention to at times...I was shocked to see what Monsanto was doing to the farmers. Hopefully Karma will come back to get em someday. Good job:)
ReplyDeleteGreat post Steve! I really enjoyed reading your post because it was like you were just sitting in front of us talking. So great job. I also was disturbed by the fact that GMO foods aren't required to be labeled. That definately needs to change. The story of the women who had an alergic reaction eating enchilladas was really scary. She had no idea she was allergic to what she was eating, and the same thing could happen to any one of us.
ReplyDeleteNice post Steve! I questioned how interesting this film might be as well considering it focused around farming. But I ended up listening to it pretty well. It is unfair that the government creates an agency dedicated to helping out and listening to the farmers but really just leave it in the hands of Monsanto. What were they thinking!?
ReplyDeleteThe film for me was hard to pay attention to but some of the stuff was pretty interesting. Like to think that most of the pesticides that farmers use today derives from toxic gases used in wars are now being sprayed on everything we eat...its crazy
ReplyDeleteOne of the comments in the film that struck me was when someone said "If I buy cows to graze my land, it is my responsibility to make sure that those cows stay in my land. Farmers next door shouldnt be the ones to put up fences to keep my cows out". I don't understand how Monsanto, and our court system, could say that those farmers did anything wrong.
ReplyDeleteI am personally really upset with the whole "patenting life" concept. I think its horrible. Just as horrible is the fact that GMO foods dont have to be labeled. That law needs to change ASAP, I am with you when you say you feel very strongly about it. Good review of the documentary Steve! --S
Hey Steve!
ReplyDeleteI know, the whole Monstanto thing is really disturbing and it's worse that our own government allows this! I have much remorse for these farmers that have been affected by this, and hopefully some new laws will be passed to protect the farmers rights! Good job Steve, seeya on Thursday!
hey steve good post. I agree with you I think that they should be labeling all GMO foods. Its so important to label foods, for health reasons especially. At times this film was hard to pay attention to but I did learn a lot of interesting facts and overall I liked it.
ReplyDeletehahaha Steve, that is so funny you couldn't stay awake for this video! Understandable though.
ReplyDeleteMonsanto sounds really dangerous, we never think about how much Round Up Ready foods we are eating! Wow I don't think the farmers should be reliable for that too! Poor guys...
Good post Steve!
Kathy
Steve,
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! Short and to the point I like that! Good informative links. I completely agree that food has to be labeled with GMO if they are contained. We all have a right to know what it is we are eating.
Hey Steve,
ReplyDeleteThe GMO labeling issue is something that bothers me too. Now it makes me wonder if how much I eat thats GM. I agree with DP26, we have the right to know what's in our food. I am surpise to know that there isn't a law that enforces it.
Nice post!