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No More 'Miracles From Molecules': Monsanto's Name Is Being Retired (reuters.com)
Flexagon writes: Germany's Bayer announced today that in its link-up with Monsanto, it's retiring the "Monsanto" name, and with it the name of the company that originally sponsored Disneyland's "Adventure Thru Inner Space" attraction. The $63 billion takeover will wrap up on Thursday. "Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio," it said.
The decision to retire the name is a smart business move. "These days Monsanto is shorthand for, as NPR's Dan Charles has put it, 'lots of things that some people love to hate': Genetically modified crops, which Monsanto invented," reports NPR. "Seed patents, which Monsanto has fought to defend. Herbicides such as Monsanto's Roundup, which protesters have sharply criticized for its possible health risks. Big agriculture in general, of which Monsanto was the reviled figurehead."
The decision to retire the name is a smart business move. "These days Monsanto is shorthand for, as NPR's Dan Charles has put it, 'lots of things that some people love to hate': Genetically modified crops, which Monsanto invented," reports NPR. "Seed patents, which Monsanto has fought to defend. Herbicides such as Monsanto's Roundup, which protesters have sharply criticized for its possible health risks. Big agriculture in general, of which Monsanto was the reviled figurehead."
Wow...um. It kind of still is. It's actually getting worse. You can stick all the Band-Aids ("Bayer" GM weed retardent crops, pesticides, petrochemical based fertilizers, water subsidies, donations to countries where it doesn't rain and they have no food, etc) on it you like, we are both growing our global population and losing ariable land on a daily basis.
While I would be the first to agree with the late Sam Kinneson, ultimately this is a numbers problem. If instead of sending starving people in the worst parts of Africa food for like 80+ years now, maybe send them some luggage and U-Haul trucks so they can MOVE TO WHERE THE FOOD IS. That has finally happened thanks to Germany and the Syrian conflict. Unfortunately that isn't working out so great for the countries hosting these folks since there are things like...a finite number of jobs, not everyone being cool with Sharia law and stoning women to death, etc.
I'm sure it will all work out in the end, just like the last time team Germany tried to "help". One way or another we will live on, just hopefully sans lukemia from the upcoming holocaust.