Comments Matthew Dillon has made

  • "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, 6 months ago 5 Responses

  • 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, 6 months ago 6 Responses

  • 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, 10 months ago 6 Responses