He Holds The Patent That Could DESTROY Monsanto And Change The World!

[KamaAina]

(I know the title kind of sounds like woo, but I looked the guy up and he seems legit. )

http://ewao.com/a/1-he-holds-the-patent-that-could-destroy-monsanto-and-change-the-world

In 2006, a patent was granted to a man named Paul Stamets. Though Paul is the world's leading mycologist, his patent has received very little attention and exposure. Why is that? Stated by executives in the pesticide industry, this patent represents “the most disruptive technology we have ever witnessed.” And when the executives say disruptive, they are referring to it being disruptive to the chemical pesticides industry.

What has Paul discovered? The mycologist has figured out how to use mother nature's own creations to keep insects from destroying crops. It's what is being called SMART pesticides. These pesticides provide safe & nearly permanent solution for controlling over 200,000 species of insects - and all thanks to the 'magic' of mushrooms.

Paul does this by taking entomopathogenic Fungi (fungi that destroys insects) and morphs it so it does not produce spores. In turn, this actually attracts the insects who then eat and turn into fungi from the inside out!

This patent has potential to revolutionize the way humans grow crops – if it can be allowed to reach mass exposure.

[TexasProgresive]

1. What if Monsanto manages to get (by whatever means) the patent?

[JDPriestly]

11. Then he sues them. Just as they sue people who they claim impinge on their patents.

[bluesbassman]

2. Gad! That thing looks like the new Mcjumbowopper!

[Art_from_Ark]

39. Coming soon to a Mickey D's near you!

[TreasonousBastard]

3. How does that work with bees, butterflies, or...

any other useful insects?

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. That is what I was wondering. n/t

[kentauros]

12. They're researching that, too:

http://www.fungi.com/beefriendly.html

[BlancheSplanchnik]

14. YAY!! Great news!

Thanks for the link!

[kentauros]

19. You're welcome :)

Fungi Perfecti is primarily Paul's business site, with some links to mushroom info. It used to be more extensive there, so I don't know where to find his various "white papers" and such. You'll just have to look for more about him and his research elsewhere.

Here's a link to his most recent Bioneers talk on a permaculture site.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

35. thanks! I liked that article.

[jeff47]

13. Shush! We are changing the world here!! (nt)

[JDPriestly]

20. To the extent that butterflies eat leaves, that is a good question.

But bees go for the pollen in a plant. I don't think they eat the leaves.

There is a video ( I think maybe PBS) about how plants talk to each other. I watched it recently.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2338524490/

It does not exactly discuss what the fungus that this thread is about, but it does demonstrate ways in which plants use natural processes to fight pests, insects, etc. It suggests that the workings of natural pesticides or repellents might work without harming bees and butterflies.

[Hoyt]

4. If it does those things, someone will adapt it and use it. It may be a new company or

existing company. Potential investors aren't stupid, and some are even environmentally friendly.

A patent like that isn't going to sit dormant for years, if it actually works. I remember back in the 1970s, lots of folks believed some guy had developed a carberauter that would get 200 miles to the gallon. They claimed Detroit automakers were ignoring it. I never figured out why it would be automakers. I could understand Oil companies, but would think at least one automaker -- or upstart -- would adopt it if it actually existed.

If this process works, is efficient, can be used by almost anyone -- an Environmental organization could put together enough friendly investors who could provide the money to roll it out.

Now if Monsanto -- or someone similar -- bought the patent to leave it unused, that's a different story. But, we would know that, and know something about the patent holder too.

[hughee99]

26. Monsanto is in the business of making money. If they could buy this patent and make more money off

it than their current pesticides, they'd sell it to customers in a heartbeat. At the very least, they'd buy the patent, develop it, "go green" (aka bribe the government into outlawing the dangerous chemicals that they and their competitors use under the guise of safety), and be the only one left with a legal pesticide, which would artificially drive up the price. The only real danger to their profit model is (if they owned this patent) would be if it were something anyone could easily produce themselves.

[Hoyt]

27. Yep.. If it's good, someone will recognize it and develop it.

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. YES! I thought I recognized the name. He has done a TED talk on this. Well worth the 18 mins.

Thanks for posting this, Kama. Important stuff.

[MineralMan]

6. I think I'd wait to see how it works before declaring

Monsanto and others to be moribund. A patent is one thing. A fully developed insect control method is quite another. The effect on beneficial insects, for example would have to be tested in depth.

If this works, then Monsanto or some other corporation would pay huge bucks for this patent. But, we don't know if it works or not. It's just a patent. I don't see much about large scale testing in this article from an advocacy website.

In the meantime, Google fungal insecticides. This is not a new idea. Biopesticides are already in use in agriculture, as well. Not every "exciting new development" will pan out.

ETA: And then there's this from another weird angle, if you'e a Morgellon's believer. The Internet is full of weird stuff, it seems. Here's another advocacy website that thinks bioinsecticides are pretty dangerous. So, who are you going to believe? Me? I go look at scientific papers, not advocacy websites.

http://www.morgellons-research.org/morgellons/morgellons-disease-factors.htm

[hifiguy]

7. Independent, as opposed to corporate-funded, science

can do amazing things. There are people at Monsanto shitting bricks over this, you can bet.

[hunter]

8. Just wait until Military Industrial Complex turns it against humans...

... that'll take care of those irritating organic farmers.

Matango -- Curse of the Mushroom People

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matango

[NuclearDem]

16. Cordiceps unilateralis homo sapiens.

[NYC_SKP]

9. In case anyone thinks this is unreliable stuff, a Huffpost Story:

By the dude in the pic with the Giant Shroom.

Not that huffpost is reliable always, but I think the story is:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stamets/mushrooms-cancer_b_1560691.html

[BlancheSplanchnik]

15. :)

[jmowreader]

17. Riddle me this guys...

How is a family of mushrooms that makes insecticides supposed to destroy a company that doesn't make insecticides? Monsanto makes seed and herbicides. BASF, Bayer and Syngenta, among others, make insecticides.

[NuclearDem]

21. Because BOO Monsanto under your bed.

[Major Nikon]

22. I don't even see how it's going to "destroy" companies that do make insecticides

Just because someone files a patent for something, doesn't mean it's commercially viable. Fungus based pesticides are nothing new and have a number of issues with commercial viability.

[DeSwiss]

28. !

[jmowreader]

33. Roundup is a herbicide. It is not an insecticide, at least not intentionally.

The mushroom insecticides could easily be used along with Roundup in a farmer's total pest-control program.

[DeSwiss]

40. Bt toxin isn't.

The gene for this toxin is what they splice into the RNA of their poison corn seeds to kill-off insects.

[jmowreader]

41. You're the one who put the picture of the Roundup package up

[Major Nikon]

42. That same "toxin" is approved for use by the National Organic Program

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/203188108697677824

[Donald Ian Rankin]

18. I can reply "no it won't" to the title, without even needing to read the article. N.T.

[SidDithers]

23. He "morphs" it?...

Sounds GMOey to me.

Sid

[bvar22]

24. If this shit works on Fire Ants,

but leaves our Honey Bee Colonies alone,
I"ll drive out there and kiss his ass.

[DeSwiss]

30. Here's how it would work:

[bvar22]

32. I enjoy watching the ants go nuts and die.

Hopefully, Fire Ants will be as susceptible.

....but still worry about our Honey Bee Colonies.

[BrotherIvan]

34. The interesting thing in that amazing, and wholly mesmirizing video

is that it says the fungus specializes in a particular insect. So I suppose you could order up the ant fungus and the bees would be safe. My mind was just blown...

[DeSwiss]

36. We could just as easily ''misuse'' this natural pesticide.

The reason being that its the entire farming protocol that's disjointed and damaging to nature, not just the chemicals. We give out these poisons willy-nilly literally to any Tom Dick or Harry with little regard for the environment where it is to be used. It's the sales that matter.

New farming protocols are needed to address climate change issues and sustainability (including urban beekeeping). Unfortunately sustainability and capitalism can't operate within the same sphere.

- So we'll have to choose what's more important t us: Profits, or our own and our children's lives......

Agriculture segment at 6:50

That's why voting for the same people who brought us here won't change anything......

[Bugenhagen]

25. Agh!

I have told my friends for years: the disease that annihilates humanity is going to be a fungal infection. The doomsday clock just ticked!

[Cosmic Kitten]

29. Paul Stamets is awesome!

He's been doing
fantastic work in mycology.

From soil remediation,
to medicinal mushrooms,
and now pest control!!!

He really is doing what he loves.
A labor of love, and it shows.
Go Paul!

[Dont call me Shirley]

31. STAMETS!, not monsatan!

I take healing mushroom because of Paul Stamets! I love that guy! A real hero!

Monsatan is a ZERO!

[Doctor_J]

37. let me know when Monsanto gets counted out

[Duppers]

38. KnR