Order 81

[clairvoyant]

http://www.alternet.org/story/62273/

I had never heard about this until just the other day. Essentially, it completely changes the way Iraqi's have been farming for years, not allowing them save seeds for the next farming season. 97% of all Iraqi farmers save their seeds for the next year. This can no longer happen.

‘Farmers shall be prohibited from re-using seeds of protected varieties or any variety mentioned in items 1 and 2 of paragraph (C) of Article 14 of this Chapter.’

Now it is virtually illegal to choose their own form of agriculture, as the seeds they use now must be the Bollgard label seeds, which also must be rebought rather than re-used, which in turn is bankrupting many farmers, and could also essentially severely shorten the Iraqi food supply.


I don't understand how Paul Bremer's 100 Orders flew under the radar for so long...

How can Iraq be a sovereign state if US imposed orders are still in effect in the country?

[Reaganista]

um that's not really what the article says so um

[Smokey D]

Also, it's pretty clear that Iraq is not a sovereign nation in any sense of the word at the moment.

[big80smullet]

What it says is that if they buy these high yield seeds they have to re-license them every season, because they are patented. It doesn't prevent the iraqi's using any seeds they like and retaining them if they aren't patented.

[CarnageFairy]

The farmers aren't being forced to use the seeds, but some of the ones that do buy them take out loans which put them in debt, which combined with a failed harvest cause them to off themselves.

I don't really think the company is at fault...

[big80smullet]

Well the company is partly at fault for making the farmers relicense their seed every year. Its pretty much just a corporation extracting so much money from a community it dies.

[spitfirejunky]

I can't see how they'd enforce this. And this isn't a big issue if they use seeds that aren't of the protected variety.

[lfantwister]

I think the point is that the protected variety are more productive

[BridgeToSolace]

I think the point is that the protected variety are more productive

Isn't the extra money you make from selling the extra crops just nulled by the relicensing fee?

Looks like the Iraqis are enjoying the benefits of capitalism :)

[CarnageFairy]

^Yeah, but if you buy the expensive seeds and your crops still don't grow you're in debt with no real way out.

I guess what it comes down to is should the company be held responsible if their product doesn't perform as advertised 100% of the time?

I know companies usually aren't, at least in this country.

[Danish]

I think the point is that living things shouldn't be patentable; they should be held in common for the good of all. Genetically engineered "terminator" seeds threaten to destroy our agricultural biodiversity.

The world's turned upside down.

[WhoDidTheElf]

If they're biogenetically modified seeds then I could see them being patented, but if their just organic I don't see how that's possible..

[BridgeToSolace]

I think the point is that living things shouldn't be patentable; they should be held in common for the good of all.

If you spend millions of dollars in R&D to develop a strain of superior grain, why should you not be allowed to patent it 0.o

Unless you're opposed to the patent system in general, in which case it makes sense, I guess.

^Yeah, but if you buy the expensive seeds and your crops still don't grow you're in debt with no real way out.

I guess what it comes down to is should the company be held responsible if their product doesn't perform as advertised 100% of the time?

That's the harm in buying ANY crop I don't see how this is a special case.

A product, especially an organic one, will never work 100% of the time.

[CarnageFairy]

IThat's the harm in buying ANY crop I don't see how this is a special case.

A product, especially an organic one, will never work 100% of the time.

I agree. :chug:


I do believe I read your other post wrong...

[Danish]

If you spend millions of dollars in R&D to develop a strain of superior grain, why should you not be allowed to patent it 0.o

Unless you're opposed to the patent system in general, in which case it makes sense, I guess.

I am opposed to the concept of "intellectual property" in general, but there is special cause for concern in these cases.

Farmers have been growing crops and saving seed for thousands of years. Over the course of time, farmers in every region, every microclimate, have developed strains that best suit their local needs and restrictions. Globally, this has resulted in a huge biodiversity in agriculture. This biodiversity is crucially important to not only to variety at the grocery store, but also to the survival of billions of people and the ability of farmers to maintain soil vitality and survive through drought.

Corporate control over seeds threatens to undo this. Genetically-engineered species tend to act as foreign invasive species virtually everywhere. Likewise, by producing crops that don't produce seeds at the end of the season, corporations can hold farmers hostage with total control over seed prices and, as is the case with Monsanto's Terminator technology, the fertilizers necessary to make the crop grow.

[WhoDidTheElf]

But don't the farmers first have to buy these GE seeds?

[Danish]

But don't the farmers first have to buy these GE seeds?

Yes, but remember two things: Not all farmers think like me (unfortunately ;)) and I'm sure Monsanto and their ilk spend a pretty penny convincing farmers to enter into a contract with them; in cases like that of Order 81, farmers in poorer countries are often forced to make the switch.

I'm not an expert on this. I recommend checking out Vandana Shiva.

[WhoDidTheElf]

Sounds like there needs to be some education for the farmers.

I can't really blame the company for trying to earn a profit, but the use of less than shady tactics is a little low.

This whole thing reminds of the beginning of 3:10 to Yuma.

[Danish]

Sounds like there needs to be some education for the farmers.

I can't really blame the company for trying to earn a profit, but the use of less than shady tactics is a little low.

This whole thing reminds of the beginning of 3:10 to Yuma.

lol Everyone needs some education.

I can't blame them either. To stop things like this from happening, we need institutional change. Corporations are like sharks. Extremely well-designed, well-honed creatures that perform their primary function extremely well, and are virtually single-minded in pursuit of that.