Task: Monsanto versus the World: Will Biotechnology Win?
Until several years ago, Monsanto was a chemicals company with operations around the world. However, its former CEO, Robert Shapiro had visions of a brave new world where science, specifically agricultural biotechnology, would once again prove Malthus wrong. (Malthus, writing around the time of the industrial revolution in England, warned of impending environmental disaster and famine. He argued that the population was increasing geometrically, but that food was increasing arithmetically.) Therefore, in 1997, Monsanto spun off its chemicals business as Solutia, to concentrate on the life sciences. In 2000, Monsanto became a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmacia. Shortly after that, consumer apprehension over the so-called "Frankenfoods" prompted Pharmacia to re-launch Monsanto as a public company.
Today, Monsanto continues its quest to become the world's leader in the new industry called life sciences. The driving force is biotechnology. This allows scientists to alter the genetic makeup of plants and animals, with the desired outcome being a "better" product. Generally, "better" is defined in terms of either increased yield or greater resistance to disease or insects.
Biotechnology enhanced products currently marketed by Monsanto include the following: (source: Monsanto: Biotechnology: Promise for a Brighter Future).
Insect-protected cotton with the Bollgard® gene protects itself against cotton bollworms, pink bollworms and tobacco budworms. As a result, cotton growers can use significantly less chemical insecticides over their fields.
NewLeaf® insect-protected potatoes offer protection against the Colorado potato beetle, the most damaging insect pest to potato crops.
YieldGard® insect-protected corn protects itself against the European corn borer and related insect pests such as the Southwestern corn borer.
Soybeans, cotton, corn, and canola with the Roundup Ready® gene are genetically improved to tolerate Roundup® herbicide. These technologies make it possible for growers to use Roundup in place of other herbicides that may be less effective or less desirable. Roundup herbicide can reduce the number of weed treatments and can also help reduce tillage to conserve soil moisture and reduce erosion of valuable topsoil.
Posilac® bovine somatotropin helps dairy cows produce milk more efficiently, without any loss in quality or natural wholesomeness.
A product which Monsanto ultimately agreed not to market because of the furor that it created was the so-called terminator seed. The terminator seed utilized a genetic technique that rendered farm-saved seed sterile. If commercially used, the seed-sterilizing technology would prevent farmers from saving seed from their harvest to use in following years. This would force farmers to return to the commercial seed market every year.
Many agree that biotechnology truly is the wave of the future. However, the legal quagmire that Monsanto found itself in threatened the very survival of the company. Monsanto's arrogant and seemingly reckless response to consumer concerns over genetically altered food products opened a Pandora's box. The focus of the debate shifted from "feeding the world" to "poisoning the world with Frankenfood". Environmental groups, politicians and governments all entered the debate.
Special instructions: It needs to be a short essay Between 300 to 450 words with at least one reference.
HERE IS THE QUESTION: If you were part of Monsanto's senior management, what would be your long-term strategy for the company?