Heirloom seeds Illegal?

[Guest guest]

I was pondering the reason for the illegality of Heirloom seeds, when I read

an article about the power of multinational companies. Apparently there are

about 40,000 powerful multinational companies worlwide. Many of these

companies spend more on local investment than many national governments can

afford.

 

Many politicians actively court these multinaionals to invest in their

countries, which the politicians use as political fodder (the creation of

jobs in their areas etc) for their on going power struggle. But this comes

at a price. The multinationals secure policy changes from these politicians

to ensure their market goals are reached.

 

Seed companies develop engineered strains of seeds which give good yields,

and are hardy. Just recently there was an article describing a new gene

sequencing seed which, after having grown into a plant, self destructs the

seeds of that plant, so that they will not reproduce (good for profits).

Many environmentalists are disturbed by this, due to the danger of cross

pollination, effectively endagering wild species. Anyway I am digressing

here.

 

It is not in the interest of these powerful multinational seed companies to

have high yielding natural varieties of heirloom seeds available on the

market, because these cannot be patented, and therefore profits will be

reduced as one does not have to buy them from the company.

 

Probably many of you are aware that out of the thousands of species of

grains, vegetables and others, only a handful of species are currently

marketed in the world nowadays, and this is under the control of the

multinationals. Some say that in a few years these multinationals will have

wiped out natural varieties, and will own all the patents to all food

species. If this came about, they could effectively rule the world, as the

entire food supply would be owned by them.

 

Scary, no?

 

Bear in mind that many of these multinationals are actualy combined

companies dealing in many different business areas, not just food

production, so once they have us by the neck with food they can then

implement whatever ecologicaly unsound, and environmentaly damaging yet

highly profitable enterprises they wish, with full governmental support. The

only hedge against this is a few environmentaly minded people who are

prepared to make a noise about it. Fortunately this group is growing, but

the multinationals are formidable foes, and are not past the odd termination

if profits get too threatened.

 

This is going on very quietly, and it is only occaisionaly that their

devious plans leak out. Seems to me that an alternative society of people

with sound philosophical answers and practical solutions to ecological

problems is needed. A people who live simply and widely propagate heirloom

species, for the health of all.

 

Prabhupadas vision is the answer.

 

Varnasrama anyone?

 

Now, regarding the heirloom seeds and the reason for them being banned, this

is my speculation. Are there other reasons for their control, does anyone

know?

 

YS Samba das