GMO Seed Practices: Pros, Cons, & Monsanto's Role - Essay Sample

Introduction

The practice of genetically modified seed s is a practice that most farmers have begun engaging on for some time and although many people are making this shift in the agricultural sector as a move to increase their production and sales to meet demand, some controversies still follow the practice especially among the big companies. Monsanto had been a major seedling company supplying GMO seed to farmers in America; they, however, manufactured sterile seeds that would germinate for a second season. It was a tactic that marked them as the monopolies in the seed of the business because the seeds were still productive and resistant to most diseases in the farms. Much controversy started following them after they called the British as sad sacks of Europe for trying to critics their GMO's seed production (Atkins, P, & Bowler, I. 2016).

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GMOs have been linked to various health and environmental issues that have become a major threat to our ecosystem. Public outcry and subsequent lobbying of environmental groups over the concern of the Monsanto group raised the concern over the "terminator seeds" as they were labeled. The environmentalists complained that the seeds posed a threat to the environment as they exposed the farmers to carcinogens, and the destruction of milkweed a source of survival for Monarch butterflies. At one time, Monsanto had the control of 53% of GMOs seeds supply in the globe, making it one of the largest producers and distributors of those seeds. It is this economy of scale that gave the Company the monopolistic power in the control of GMOs seeds in the World (Genetic Literacy Project. 2016).

Organic foods are the produce generated by the application of the specified pesticides as defined by the US. Through the UNS Department of Agriculture, regulation is entirely undertaken by the National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP regulates pesticides and other similar chemicals that are applicable in the food industry production. NOP also regulates harvest and also takes part in the handling of the food, for instance, through product sales. NOP requires anyone willing to take part in the selling and production of organic products that need to acquire organic certification, which is a procedural step verifying the production procedure and whether it abides by the set standards of organic production.

To be fully certified for operations regarding organic foods, one has to follow a certain procedure that involves; the farmer creates an Organic System Plan, which then implemented and then reviewed for completeness and compliance assurance. These are procedural processes that the program reviews and samples to ensure that farmers engage in products that met the healthy production standards as required.

Heirloom foods the forgotten species like fruits from seeds, flowers, and vegetables that are majorly passed from generation to generation. These are organic foods whose pollination highly depends on the natural insect or wind pollination process. Farmers stopped producing Heirloom products because of the modernization in agriculture and the emergence of GMOs, which made agriculture and more sustainable, for instance, in the control of pests and diseases. Heirloom foods are regaining popularity because farmers feel like the modernization of farming, and industrialization has made the production of foods cheaper, more uniform, and not flavorful. Therefore heritage foods are now an alternative that farmers can quickly turn to (Lipton, E. 2015).

I fully support the ideology of American farmers growing organic foods and Heirloom products about Monsanto business practice. Unlike the business practice of Monsanto in farming, taking practice in organic and Heirloom foods helps conserve the environment and protection of genetic species. Monsanto business practice in agriculture promotes the application of GMOs in agriculture, which endangers exotic produce, and it destroys important weeds in the ecosystem like the milkweed, which is an important natural element for the survival of the Monarch butterflies. Business practice by the Monsanto also posses health risks that are linked to the various pesticides and chemical processes involved in the manufacturing of the seeds. Heirloom foods offer an anchorage to the heritage of organic foods and an environment that is environmentally friendly because these are the factors that give pride to farmers, unlike the Monsanto business practice in agriculture that majors on endangering various species and exotic natural elements for its production.

Kraft Corporation

Kraft is one of the largest beverage and food manufactures that was founded by James L. Kraft in 1903. It is mainly based in Chicago. James started the Company individually as a local retailer but later was joined by his two other brothers in the venture. It was in 1980 that the firm merged with Dart Industries, a company diversifying in the production of goods like home appliances, batteries, and plastic products. It was after a series of business wrangles that in 2007, Kraft purchased a biscuit division of a French firm known as Groupe Danone; he later purchased Cadbury for $19 billion. Two years later, the firm re-organized the Company, where one was a grocery section as Kraft and the other as Mondelez International selling snack products. It was 2015 that Kraft parent firm got into a merger with H.J Heinz Inc. It was this merger that shaped the general growth of the Company to a major conglomerate.

Kraft specializes in food and beverage manufacturing, where foods such as cheese and coffee are made and sold. In beverage manufacturing, the Company mainly target children because they are the most consumers of the product in the US. Chocolate, Cheese, and other similar beverages are products commonly consumed by children. On the other hand, the Company targets the general public in the production of the food industry. Food products cut across the general public the same way with beverage products only that with beverages, children are mostly the largest consumers.

Kraft undergoes the normal regulations required by the United States in the packaging and other such as the Food and Drug Administration. The Company is mandated to follow the various food safety precautions set by the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the States of the department of Agriculture. These enactments by the government are enforced in the regulation of distribution, manufacturing, and also labeling of products. The Kraft recently adopted the laws provided by the FDA department. Other enforceable laws are relatable through licensing plants, enforcements of state and federal standards for the selected products (Cassidy, E. 2016, March 23).

Kraft processing model applies the concept of cost-cutting model, which involves the process of putting on the fat content in their manufacturing. These are coordinated series of manufacturing processes that the Company engages on as a processing model to cut on fat as they are a beverage manufacturing firm. The difference in processing for organic products is that in the processing of natural products, the processes are designed to ensure that no components of nonorganic components find their way to this processing unit.

Slow Food Movement

The famous protest known as the slow food movement began in 1986 when MacDonald's was set to be opened close to the Spanish Steps in Rome, where the protests began. The reason for the famous protests was as a result of MacDonald's setting close to the Spanish restaurant; the people were opposed to fast food. One Italian Journalist by the name Carlo Petrini decided that protesting by carrying signs was not an effective means to air their grievances, so he devised a different means that would then attract the attention of everyone. The Journalist lobbied friends, and they joined the protest without any signs but with bowls of penne pasta that was distributed out to everyone that was passing by at that place. These protests gave rise to the slow food movement, which was an initiative to push for not consuming fast foods (Bunge, J. 2016).

The concept of conviviality involves the activity of people coming together around a set of a table not only as a way to break bread but also to have a discussion on various social relations. It is, without a doubt, the most notable concept that has been consolidated by food culture in the period of the slow food movement. The idea of exchanging casual talks and stories and friendly jokes are the basic ideologies that led to the drafting of the conviviality concept. All these pleasantries were crafted to be shared in the process of sharing food. This concept was the heart of the slow food movement, as it meant taking pleasure as Italians do, in the activity of cooking. It was a concept meant to bring back the idea of bringing back the social awareness as a positive entity.

The slow food movement has experienced tremendous development and growth across America since the first protest in Rome. The movement now boasts of nearly 100,000 members and an extra 1,500 members of the convivial movement that cut across 160 nations in the World. The various nations that are members of the Slow Food Movement are spread across various continents like in Africa and Europe. It is a movement. It was founded in Rome but altered due to its significance in social relationships, and this has seen membership of 200,000 active members. New York State, for instance, enjoys the support of 11 units of slow food movement joints. New York City is among the 11 units of the slow food movement in New York State.

Farm to Table Initiative

The various components of taste New York as it was presented by Governor Andrew Cuomo include matters such as the Regional Food Hub Task Force, the SUNY Farmers, and Regional Food Wholesale Farmers. The governor gathered people around the city to convene and have a discussion about delivering fresh produce to the underserved communities. It was a means that the governor would deliver by providing access to various agricultural sources from New York.

The initiative tastes New York started in 2013 as a promotional campaign for beverage and industry in the city. The resultant effect of the movement is the emergence of significant events like Greta New York State Fair and several storage facilities around the city. The movement operates on a website that provides its users with an array of cuisines and trails of wine for various events that would be in place.

Most populations in NY are unable to access supermarkets where they can easily have access to fresh produce. Governor Cuomo launched the Fresh connect program in 2011 as a means to alleviate the economic development of such communities that are underserved in accessing fresh foods. The program was meant to expand on the number of farmers and subsequent market outlets, thereby giving farmers a better approach to accessing and selling their fresh produce.

The initiative was also directed at expanding the support that is provided I general. The program was looking at having veterans and servicemen in their program. A food box initiative was developed to increase the capacity of the local organizations to share weekly shares of vegetables and fruits. It was meant to create an implementation of the farmers market manager certification program (FMMPRO)

Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) is state-wide initiative mend for the expansion of local markets for local produce. This product would be distributed in the various universities and hospitals and other parts of the city. The program was meant to increase the number of local foods in cafeterias, which meant good business for farmers and healthy living for everyone. Having local produce distributed in all parts of the city would im...