Video: Saving Seeds and Patents — Treating Farmers Fairly

February 5, 2010 By G. Kasper

Have you ever wondered about Monsanto’s business practices regarding saved seed?

Monsanto’s Garrett Kasper answers some of the most commonly asked questions regarding saving patented seed and how Monsanto investigates these cases. Kasper tackles many of the myths that have developed around this topic and gives a frank and clear explanation of why it’s not only illegal to save patented seed but how it’s detrimental to farmers who follow the law.

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For more information regard seeds and patent protection please visit:
http://www.monsanto.com/seedpatentprotection

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Great video! (Translation: "Great cover-up!")
Jason February 06, 2010
We ALL know the truth. You are not responding to the issue. Nobody is questioning re-using your seed. The problem is you are trying to take over the rest of the growers. I hope your company can seek a better way of understanding and perspective on the issue at hand.
A. Spurralella February 06, 2010
The general story behind of each case should be compiled by monsanto to show how monsanto was not fault for each case they investigated.
Carl February 06, 2010
I just watched the movie Food Inc, if you want to come clean to the people, then why didnt you go on the video? I dont understand why you hid, made you look far worse then perhaps you intended, you really should make a video.. ??
That isnt what I heard... February 07, 2010
ok, if monsanto can sue me for planting GMO corn can i sue monsanto for their patented GMO pollen invading my organic heirloom corn?

Editor's Note: It has never been, nor will it be Monsanto policy to exercise its patent rights where trace amounts of our patented traits are present in farmer's fields as a result of inadvertent means.

rodney richbourg February 11, 2010
The reason only 9 cases went the distance is beacause of the avalanche of court and lawyers fees. = only 9 people had enough money to go all the way.
Lalo February 11, 2010
There are many disturbing aspects of this video. One of which is that Monsanto employs people like Chris Reat to investigate already struggling farmers, and then has the audacity to sue them. Garrett used the term "seed piracy"; a made-up term, which villainizes those who willingly or not (i.e. cross-pollination) re-use the genetics from Monsanto seeds. Smart farming dictates seed saving. I don't understand the benefit of buying new seeds every year, especially at the risk of suffering lawsuits. I also don't understand why anyone would want to indebt themselves to one company and rely on them for seed, pesticides, or any other product/technology dreamed up and pushed through the Supreme Court. Try again Garrett and Chris.
Try again. February 11, 2010
We know who you are and what you do. This is a battleground for control of the human population. We know you are lying. My conservative christian Minnesota family knows it like my vegan girlfriend knows it. Dave
David Fort February 11, 2010
At the company picnic do you guys eat your corn and drink diet soda? Just wondering.
Ray February 12, 2010
The video tries to pitch one farmer against another on 'competitive' grounds. I have never known farmers 'competing' with each other.
Dmitri February 15, 2010
I bet half the people who commented on this video were not heard because your blocked any comments that could severely hurt your company. The TRUTH HURTS doesn't it.
Jack February 18, 2010
Do you guys consume your own products?
MT February 20, 2010
Can you upload a video that includes more than your side of the story? Why don't you address the other side of the story: why you got in this mess in the first place? Maybe if you taped a Q&A session and posted it for the public to see, maybe you might redeem some of your rightfully tarnished name. If you are ethical enough to see the many small, hard-working farmers' lives you have tainted and/or destroyed with your genetically altered seed, you might think to yourself that you just made an irriversible mistake on the lives that are directly or indirectly related to your company. Your seed sales might have made you rich, but remember: you can run, but you can't hide.
Really.... February 22, 2010
For every poster thinking Monsanto is covering this up, look at this page! Not one positive comment about the company on their very own web site. The modern world cannot sustain itself without modern approaches to agriculture. Or you can stick your head in the sand and continue proclaiming the virtues of being a Luddite.

Adam from IL
Adam February 24, 2010
This is a horrible video. It's quite disgusting to see how you yap away with your carefully chosen words to basically say that if a farmer save seeds then they're screwed. These farmers are left with no choice and are pushed against the wall to sign these ridiculous contracts when monsanto has control over 90% of the soybean crop in this country. And for you to go after innocent farmers who are victims of contamination is shamelss. This whole video is such a lame attempt to justify your patent on basic necessity of food... on life! When did it become okay to put a patent on CROPS? How this is morally acceptable is beyond me.
Helen February 24, 2010
I stopped eating corn and soy because of your bad press.....
Tony DiGiovanni February 25, 2010

Shamefull Video , one can only imagine the type of comments you are getting considering they are all filtered and none posted.

You blatently admit that 300.000 customers is not enough and no one but you are allowed a piece of the pie. You steal people's lives in the name of the $ and expect you will get away with it forever . How much is actually enough ? do you expect to go on untill you take every cent from the entire farming community?

the public is not as stupid as Monsanto seem's to think , we are aware that corrupt bills passed into law stem from personal investment interests(ie the law that actually allows you to stop people replanting their own paid for seed). You then use and abuse the law to actually sue people who's customers you stole in the first place and who are basically doing what they have done their whole lives to feed their familly(ie seed cleaner's).

I have had enough of company's like Monsanto and will never purchase anything from you or any company related to you untill you include true moral decency in your bussiness practice.

Q De Miles February 27, 2010
Low production value company propaganda on a company website, how unexpected...
Talking Heads February 27, 2010
The interesting thing about the lawsuits is that the defendants were initially identified when their neighbors dropped dime.

Farming is an honest occupation. We don't like thieves in our midst.
Les March 01, 2010
Please don't think you're fooling anyone with the stat that only 9 cases actually went to court. What farmer has the means to go up against a billion dollar corporation in court? Do you think people are stupid?
Mary March 01, 2010
I'm just wondering.... Who thinks it's fair that Monsanto will go to court against these seed cleaners, many of whom have never purchased a Monsanto product in their lives, and sue them for everything they have got. If Monsanto seems to be on the loosing side, they will prolong the case until the defendant can't pay the bills. I mean it looks like Monsanto has won all but 9 times right? Well really they have had the money to "out burden" the defendants, not prove them selves right. And also, WE SHOULD KNOW WHATS IN OUR FOOD. I don't care if it's genetically modified or cloned, THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.
Geoff from Illinois March 01, 2010
Just one thing, please stop suing farmer's for pollen contamination. They didn't want your pollen, never asked for it, and never will. So don't sue them. They're not at fault here.

Editor's Note: It has never been, nor will it be Monsanto policy to exercise its patent rights where trace amounts of our patented traits are present in farmer's fields as a result of inadvertent means.

Matt March 02, 2010
I've read all of the comments and I find them very interesting. I'm very new to this topic, but I've grown up in a farming community my entire life. I didn't realize seeds had become patented and cannot be saved. It definitely makes sense from a corporate stand point where a lot of money is invested in this technology. From a sustainable stand point I'm very leery of this practice. I personally save all of my seeds from year to year, because that's what humans have done for thousands of years. I go the farmer's market every week and enjoy buying heirloom products, full of flavor and diversity. It's very exciting to purchase 10 different types of potatoes, or multiple types of corn. We even have a local farmer that grows their own organic soy beans and produces wonderful hand made tofu from it.

I've watched Food Inc., the Botany of Desire and read articles on this site and many others, and I just don't know what's going on with our food. It's seems bizarre that a bag of carrots costs more than a case of soda. I mean it doesn't once you know corn has been heavily subsidized, but why?

The "only problem" I have, is what "rodney richbourg" said about gmo pollen going into his heirloom crops. If I'm growing my own heirloom soy beans and it gets contaminated with Monsanto's pollen, does that make me a criminal? And if I want to save my own seed, I shouldn't get sued because of this.

From my own organic gardening experiences, it just makes sense not to use pesticides and other chemicals. Over the last few years with bees declining, it's hard to get anything to pollinate. Look at Asia, they have to pollinate their Pears by hand - something bees did for us naturally.

Editor's Note: It has never been, nor will it be Monsanto policy to exercise its patent rights where trace amounts of our patented traits are present in farmer's fields as a result of inadvertent means. If you’d like to read more please see our FAQ page on the film, Food, Inc.

Mike March 02, 2010
So you do have private investigators that go and make sure that farmers are not saving seeds. Do you not care that your creating toxic soild by adding chemicals to your seeds? Do you make sure tat your seeds are safe for consumers???
D. Ayala March 02, 2010