Matthew Dillon’s Posts

• Profit Actually

  Monsanto execs make millions off farmers' backs 5

  Posted 1 year, 5 months ago

  Hugh Grant -- Monsanto chair, CEO, and president -- probably won't notice the increased price of a loaf of bread. And if he does, it will be with a smile. Grant is $13-million-and-change wealthier today than he was on Monday, as he choose to exercise stock options -- 116,000 shares worth -- that netted him a profit of over $114 per share.

  Like many of us, I wouldn't mind paying the extra dollar per loaf of bread if I knew the majority of that dollar was going back into the hands of farmers. Instead, the higher prices at the… Read More

• Who owns your tomato?

  Another big horticultural seed company bought by Monsanto 6

  Posted 1 year, 7 months ago

  When Monsanto buys into a market, they buy in big. In 2005, Monsanto's seed/genetic trait holdings were primarily in corn, cotton, soybeans, and canola. That year, they purchased Seminis, the world's largest vegetable seed company (see And We Have the Seed) specializing in seed for vegetable field crops. Now their takeover of the vegetable seed sector continues, as they have announced the intent to purchase the Dutch breeding and seed company, De Ruiter Seeds.

• Genetically engineered 'supercarrot'

  New superfood is higher in press-release fluff and poor journalism than your average carrot 9

  Posted 1 year, 9 months ago

  The best way to read this post is to begin with a recent press release from Texas A&M on their new Supercarrot.

  Second, read Wired magazine journalist Alexis Madrigal's coverage of the story. Alexis praises the next generation of biotech crops. He writes that, "A carrot that increases what's known as the bioavailability of calcium could have a major impact in the marketplace." Really?

  You are correct, Alexis: it could have a major impact on a totally uninformed marketplace -- but not much of an impact on nutrition. However, it is likely to have an impact on genetic… Read More

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Matthew Dillon’s Recent Comments

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  "Bread" was a metaphor

  Thanks for the comments one and all. Monsanto doesn't produce bread - they produce trangenic traits, seed, and agricultural chemicals that work with their seed. I was using "bread" in a metaphorical sense to cover the wide array of food products that we are paying more for while the lion's share of profits go to large agribusiness firms (Cargill, Monsanto, ADM, ConAgra)and their execs.

  In the case of Monsanto, a better item than bread would have been "breakfast cereal" as Monsanto corn varieties go into cereals and other processed foods.

  Monsanto doesn't have retail brands, they supply inputs - and are making a pretty penny doing so in part due to their having unfair competitive practices (market concentration/monopoly) on seeds.

  Sorry that was confusing. On Monsanto execs make millions off farmers' backs posted 1 year, 5 months ago 5 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Cultural Loss is Also Technical Loss

  Excellent post Tom.
  A few nights ago I gave a talk to a local food-farm group and made a similar case, but particularly focussed on the cultural dimension. The recent success of the local and organic farm movement has relied heavily on new producers migrating from cities, suburbs, and non-agricultural colleges. Many of whom know web site content management better than pasture management. Fine - better to have greenhorns farming than no one farming. But we can't afford to have intergenerational skills and knowledge leaving the farm to be replaced by a new infusion of green blood. It's not only the loss of cultural heritage but also the loss of technical skills - just as important as good soil, water, or seed. Farm policy must support farm succession, and encourage rural youth to stay in their communities to work in food and farm related industries.

  - Matthew DillonOn Agriculture produces more than just crops -- and it's time for policy to reflect that posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses

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  redeeming cool codes

  The process you have to go through to redeem your cool codes is incredibly arduous. I might try it tonight after I've had a few and see if it is more user friendly under the influence.On Vodka maker launches global cooling campaign posted 1 year, 9 months ago 6 Responses