http://gefoodalert.org/News/news.cfm?News_ID=3070

  U.S. Enters the Killer-Seed Biz
  (Posted: 21-Dec-01)

  Earth Island Journal | December 22, 2001

  US -- In August, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced
  that it would be joining forces with its private industry partner,
  Delta & Pine land (DPL) to produce and promote genetically
  engineered "Terminator" seeds.

  Terminator seeds, designed to produce sterile seeds, make it
  impossible for farmers to save seeds for future use. Hope Shand
  with the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) noted
  that "Terminator technology has been universally condemned by
  civil society, banned by international agricultural research
  institutes, censured by United Nations bodies, even shunned by
  Monsanto." The Licensing was even opposed by the USDA's own
  Biotech Advisory Committee.

  RAFI's Silvia Ribeiro called the USDA's decision to license the
  technology to DPl, the world's ninth largest seed company, "a
  disgraceful example of corporate welfare involving a technology
  that is bad for farmers, dangerous for the environment and
  disastrous for world food security."

  Terminator technology, which will be used to control the
  production of three major food crops -- soybeans, rice and wheat
  -- is set to be commercialized in December 2002. An attempt to ban
  Terminator technology will be mounted at the World Food Summit in
  Rome. There is little question where the US will stand. As RAFI
  observes: "In keeping with its image as a rogue, isolationist
  state in international treaty negotiations on global warming and
  biological weapons, the US also appears to stand alone on Terminator."

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