 U.S. crop in 2010)
Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres) (nongmoproject.org)
Regulations in other parts of the world are an improvement upon the U.S.'s but are hardly strict enough to properly protect the consumer. Regulations (con.) Regulations (con.) Furthermore, just recently, Monsanto (the leading corporation producing GM seeds) and its friends managed to attach a clause to the funding bill that President Obama signed into law. The clause prohibits the Department of Agriculture from halting production of a GM crop once it has been planted, regardless of any evidence that might prove it a danger. This poses the question: In cases such as this, is Congress really protecting the people's interests? Effects on Small Farmers Organic Farming As an alternate to GMOs, some farmers have turned to 0:00-3:08 Effects on small farmers For organic small farmers, GMOs pose a serious problem. Cross pollination can easily transfer the GMO seeds to nearby organic farms and contaminate the crops with GM seed. In this case, organic farmers can no longer ensure that their crop is a 100% organic and lose their status as USDA organic.
Another problem is corporate control of the seed supply. Traditionally, farmers save the seeds from their harvests so they do not have to repurchase new ones for the next season. But with the patenting of GMOs, farmers are unable to do so as it would violate the licensing agreement they signed when GM seeds are purchased. Farmers (con.) Violation of the licensing agreement can occur unintentionally. A farmer whose field is contaminated with GM seed could potentially be sued for copying a patented material. The financial expenses of a lawsuit could be devastating upon the farmer.
Monsanto, by Jan 2010, had filed 136 lawsuits against farmers and the majority were ruled in favor of the company.