India files biopiracy lawsuit against Monsanto

[lovuian]

http://www.naturalnews.com/033714_biopiracy_Monsanto.html

NaturalNews) Representing one of the most agriculturally bio-diverse nations in the world, India has become a primary target for biotechnology companies like Monsanto and Cargill to spread their genetically-modified (GM) crops into new markets. However, a recent France 24 report explains that the Indian government has decided to take an offensive approach against this attempted agricultural takeover by suing Monsanto for "biopiracy," accusing the company of stealing India's indigenous plants in order to re-engineer them into patented varieties.

[LiberalEsto]

1. K&R

:kick:

[msongs]

2. nobody should be allowed to patent the genes of living organisms nt

[AngkorWot]

3. So... the Indian government is claiming they have the rights to the plants native to India?

[lovuian]

4. if they can do it then can other countries claim it

also for their native plants?

[AngkorWot]

5. So the Indian government patented a native plant?

Cant' do that. Patents have to be novel. Furthermore, they wouldn't have a case if Monsanto were selling a non-native variety of a native plant.

I blame your source. Naturalnews will print any old shit no matter how patently absurded. D'ohohoho.

[lovuian]

6. do you have a link or source that says this suit is not

taking place?

[AngkorWot]

7. Do you have a credible link that gives an accurate description of the suit?

I wonder what it's about.

[lovuian]

8. I only have the link above but if you find another link on

the topic feel free to post it
I'm interested in this Biopiracy charge

thanks

[Sal Minella]

10. I suspect that the Indian government wants to prevent

Monsanto from tweaking the genes of a native Indian plant and then profiting from patenting the result -- it is thievery of a nasty sort, and I hope it can be stopped by international law or blockage of some sort.

Monsanto would then pressure Indian farmers to buy the "improved" seed -- I would think the brain-trust at Monsanto might have twinges of conscience about the thousands of Indian farmers who have suicided because of debts owed to Monsanto for the planting of crops that failed.

Allowing a patent on tweaked genes is insane -- If I kidnap the neighbor's kid and shave his head, that does not make him my kid.

[AngkorWot]

12. I'd say the Indian government is looking to cash in.

"If I kidnap the neighbor's kid and shave his head, that does not make him my kid."

Growing a plant is not the same as kidnapping a kid.

Shaving a head is not the same as inventing a novel organism.

[Sal Minella]

13. You believe India "cashing in" would be morally unacceptable?

Whereas it's okay with you for Monsanto to cash in on food crops they've stolen from a society that's grown them for thousands of years, and given a minor tweak?

Monsanto isn't "inventing" shit.

Life forms are life forms. Corrupting a life form with Bt genes is nothing to be proud of. The world did not really need glow-in-the-dark rabbits.

IMO Monsanto tweaking a gene is much more like shaving a kid's head than you want to believe.

I am surrounded by farmers whose beanfields and cornfields are increasingly full of weeds that have evolved to be immune to Round-Up.

[polly7]

14. Wth?

Why wouldn't they have the right to their own native plants?

[lovuian]

9. I don't see another link or source

so perhaps my source is a good one
I await another which says India is not allowed to protect their indigenous plants which has fed and been grown for thousands and thousands of years

[SpiralHawk]

11. Monsanto (R): The world's poster child for corporate manipulation and deceit

Monsanto embodies Republicon Family Values on Genetically Engineered steroids.

[Odin2005]

15. I hate Monstanto, but I had to unrec because the source is a woo site.