Barbara H. Peterson
For years Monsanto has painted those of us attempting to shed light on the dangers of genetically modified/engineered organisms (GMOs) as “conspiracy theorists.” While these so-called “theories” are not theories at all, but based in hard, cold, fact, that hasn’t stopped the company from dismissing them as not evidence-based because the studies proving harm were not generated by its own corporate scientists. And believe me, I use the term “scientist” loosely when it comes to Monsanto.
Well, now the tables have turned. The shoe is on the other foot, and Monsanto has absolutely no problem painting itself as the victim and inventing a little conspiracy theory of its own by pointing the finger at some unknown perpetrator looking to discredit Monsanto. No facts, just theory, and a pretty lame one at that.
Conspiracy Theory definition:
A theory that explains an event as being the result of a plot by a covert group or organization; a belief that a particular unexplained event was caused by such a group.
Now let’s take a look at Monsanto’s explanation of how its unapproved GMO wheat was recently discovered in Eastern Oregon:
Monsanto and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are investigating how genetically modified wheat that hasn’t been approved for commercial planting was found growing on an Oregon farm eight years after nationwide field tests ended.
Monsanto’s genetic analyses found the variety hasn’t contaminated the types of seed planted on the Oregon farm or the wheat seed typically grown in Oregon and Washington state, Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley said today on a call with reporters. The unapproved wheat was found growing on less than 1 percent of the farmer’s 125-acre (51-hectare) field, Fraley said.
“It seems likely to be a random, isolated occurrence more consistent with the accidental or purposeful mixing of a small amount of seed during the planting, harvesting or during the fallow cycle in an individual field,” Fraley said on the call.
Asked whether the St. Louis-based company is suggesting the incident could be an act of sabotage, Fraley said, “That is certainly one of the options we are looking at.”
Okay. Yeah! The contamination couldn’t possibly be a result of gene flow such as birds, insects, wind, water, or any other reasonable cause resulting from open field testing of experimental crops in 16 states. Naw, couldn’t possibly be that. It must be some radical anti-GMO activist with a grudge against the company.
Fraley said suggested that the culprits could be activists who have campaigned against genetically modified foods, which are engineered to include certain traits.
“It’s fair to say there are folks who don’t like biotechnology and would use this to create problems,” he said.
http://www.katu.com/news/local/Monsanto-suggests-sabotage-in-modified-wheat-case-212545361.html
Start at the 45 second mark of the following video to see how a GM sugar beet farmer’s crop was contaminated with GM canola that isn’t even grown anywhere in his region.
Wait just a doggone minute! According to Monsanto, this doesn’t happen! Yeah, and I saw a pig fly by the other day. His name is Denial, and he states, without a shadow of a doubt, that Monsanto is not responsible for the GM wheat contamination in Oregon. Some dastardly terrorist group is. Monsanto is merely a victim of circumstance.
Even the Department of Agriculture isn’t buying that one. It has one of its own:
The Department of Agriculture, which is conducting a secretive investigation into the renegade GM wheat outbreak, maintains the GM wheat remained confined to a single 125-acre field on a single farm in eastern Oregon. Officials said there was no evidence the contaminated wheat was in the marketplace.
Monsanto, which manufactured the altered gene and conducted field trials of the GM wheat several years ago, strongly suggested in a conference call with reporters on Friday that the company was the victim of sabotage of anti-GM campaigners. Robb Fraley, Monsanto’s chief technology officer, said:
“It’s fair to say there are folks who don’t like biotechnology and who would use this as an opportunity to make problems.”
The real story is unlikely to emerge – if at all – until the publication of the final report by 18 Department of Agriculture investigators who are now scouring grain elevators, farmers’ fields and university research stations in eastern Oregon, hunting for a few grains of suspicious wheat.
A secret investigation… Combing grain elevators, fields, and research stations, looking for that elusive, hidden stash of GMO wheat. Not much better than the Monsanto yarn of an activist conspirator. I’ve got a better one: Look up! In the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Super-Activist spreading GMO wheat seeds to discredit Monsanto! I could go on, but you get the picture….
©2013 Barbara H. Peterson
Tags: Barbara H. Peterson, conspiracy theory, contamination, Farm Wars, farmwars, genetic engineering, GMO, monsanto, wheat
It’s very hard for me to even think that an anti-GMO activist would do this, I would think the last thing they would want would be GMO anything growing anywhere.
It’s more likely that this is how Monsanto operates, so they think everyone else should be like them.
So does this mean “The Genies out of the bottle” isn’t a conspiracy theory? It would bhe funny if it wasn’t true. I guess Monsanto will be standing with other great mass murders in History like Hitler, Mao, Stalin, & Bushbama!
Since I can tell when I have eaten genetically modified food I am of the opinion that wheat that has been genetically modified has been in the food supply for awhile. Monsanto may be covering for the fact that more of this may be found or trying to obfuscate to avoid wholesale testing of American wheat products. The USDA and FDA should take all this very seriously as the people are getting very tired of Monsanto running the government.
More likely that the field gets burned rather than planted . Where exactly were the first GMO seeds found for this planting ? Someone knew to keep , save , and hide the seeds for 8 years so they could do this now ! Only Christ would think of it , all others would burn the fields , not save GMOs and fake plant them.