Stung by a backlash from some farmers and consumers, Monsanto has been saying recently that it pursued the wrong course in trying to win market approval of genetically engineered foods without addressing concerns that the foods might pose risks to human health and the environment. Listen in on Monsanto CEO Hendrik Verfaille: "We tried to convince the opponents or activists that we were right and they were wrong, that they should listen to us and that they basically should shut up." At a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Verfaille spoke fondly of a new approach — actually talking with activist groups to try to reach common ground. Wow. On the same panel, McDonald’s chair and CEO, Jack Greenberg, complained that it’s unfair for anti-globalization activists to target his corporation during protests because the chain is actually a collection of small, locally owned businesses.
