Brazil Moving to Lift Ban on Genetically Modified Terminator Seeds

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Genetically-modified 'terminator' seeds are said to threaten the livelihoods of millions of small farmers around the world.

Remember terminator seeds?  They’re coming back in Brazil.

The word “terminator” refers to genetically engineered seed that dies at harvest, obliging farmers to purchase new seed every growing season.

Here’s the latest news on this highly controversial GMO technology, from The Guardian newspaper in Great Britain:

Brazil is set to break a global moratorium on genetically-modified ‘terminator’ seeds, which are said to threaten the livelihoods of millions of small farmers around the world.

“The sterile or ‘suicide’ seeds are produced by means of genetic use restriction technology, which makes crops die off after one harvest without producing offspring. As a result, farmers have to buy new seeds for each planting, which reduces their self-sufficiency and makes them dependent on major seed and chemical companies.

  • Published on Mar 5, 2014
Tagged with: Brazil, Cheryl Long, farming, GMO, seed
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