I have been thinking about something said by zevele10 back in March (3/4/02), and have wanted to make some response to what he said, but never got around to it. So, now I will. What he said was: "What is the point to kill 30,300,3000,30000, even more terrorists and at the same to oblige the poorest farmers on earth to use the american "sterile seeds". The one you cannot take some from the harvest for the next ear, they just do not grow.
It's this "sterile seeds" thing that I wish to respond. I amy thinking he must be referring to hybrids, such as hybrid corn. First, I did not know that we were "making" anyone use this seed. Its seems to me that the American seeds are being used for one or two reasons: 1) The Americans are the only ones providing seed, and/or 2) The seed offered by the Americans has some advantage over other offerings. As to the seeds being steril, that is because they are hybrids, which are strains which have been specially engineered, and an unfortunate product of that is steril seeds or at least seed that does not "breed" true. The trade-off for that is that these hybrids can be engineered to be resistent to insect pests, quick maturing, drought resistant, and to be relatively hardy under less than ideal conditions. The yield of these hybrids is also much, much higher than none hybrid strains. I guess my point is that the "sterile seeds" is not some plot against the third world, but instead is a consequence them being hybrids, which stand a much better chance of actually producing something within the environment that they will be grown. So, if the other nations of the world have high yielding, pest resistent, drought resistent strains of pure reproducing food crops, why are they not providing these to the people that need them? These "American Corporations" are providing seed, and some of the best engineered seed in the world, to the people that need them. And yes, these Corporations do have to make a profit if they are to keep producing the seed that people need.
Well, that's my two cents worth (maybe more like three cents).
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