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Group Tries To Open Source Seeds
jenwike writes The Open Source Seed Initiative is a passionate group that wants to ensure their seeds are never patented, but making sure seeds are free for use and distribution by anyone isn't as easy as you might think. Part of the equation are plant characteristics, like an extended head on lettuce — is that an invention? Or, would you argue that it is the product of the collective sharing of material that improves the whole crop over time? In this report, one farmer says, "If you're not exchanging germplasm, you're cutting your own throat."
Sterile seeds that cannot be harvested from the plants it grows is a sure way of making sure humanity will starve to death after society falls apart.
My degree is in economics. What you are proposing is a zero-sum game. This is not how life works.
If you can get more grain out of a field, that will enable you to use that grain for other purposes. Cattle, chickens, etc. Your food choices increase. You can put some of the field into lumber at the same overall bushel production. Heck, you work less hard for the same number of calories. You can get a job in manufacturing perhaps. Basically, the increase in calorie production means an overall improved quality of life for both the individual farmer and the community as a whole.
Hoist Number One and Number Six.
Except that as soon as one patent nears expiration, another slightly differing patent that still covers the same item is filed for and granted. And you'd be a fool to assume that patents will stay at 20 years when our politicians are completely corrupt and have a revolving-door system with the very corporations the public needs protection from. Lobbying (read: legalized bribery) makes it likely that the scope of patents will continue to expand, just as the scope of copyright does.
Then give the consumers a choice to not buy GMO. Label products as GMO.
Plenty of products are already labeled as NOT GMO. So people already have a choice.
Not plenty enough. I am in the US west coast in a fairly large city, with a whole foods and a choice of stores. I honestly dont find enough products labelled GMO free.