Roundup 1

 Monsanto has produced the Roundup products that appear at first glance to be a farmer’s dream. Genetically alter a plant in such a way as to preserve its nutritional characteristics while at the same time making it resistant to weed killing herbicides. Too good to be true? Not according to pro- Monsanto folks and farmers who have received huge weed control benefits.  But absolutely true to the Institute for Responsible Technology. Here’s Managing Director, Charles Burkham.

 (Burkham) “They took this gene which was developed from a bacteria that they found growing in the scum of one of their waste holding tanks at their processing plant where they made the Roundup herbicide. They take that and they go through the standard genetic engineering process which is very broad based. They either shoot it in or they put it on the carrier of another gene and they let it infect  things and then they spray Roundup on the cells that are created. The ones that survive the antibiotic they spray on it because it’s attached to an antibiotic gene, those are the ones that are then placed in the modified seed.”

 You just heard from someone who’s obviously very much opposed. But why? Mr. Burkham discusses his view of the dangers tomorrow.