Global Seed Companies: Who Owns What and why are multinational chemical companies in control?

According to Philip Howard there were over 10,000 seed companies in the US in the 1970s, by 1998 there were only 1,500 left. This is a fascinating, fact filled report of how an ever smaller group of chemical companies, foremost Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta have taken over a majority share of the world seed supply in a very short period of time. And they are not only dealing in basic grains and genetic engineering of corn and soy, but have already successfully acquired fruits and vegetables seed companies and hybrid seed stock.
Genetic engineering, the patenting of seeds, sanctioned by Supreme Court and global trade jurisdiction now make the saving of an increasingly larger part of the world seed inheritance illegal. Of great concern is the movement on the part of these global corporations to also make illegal the replanting of their growing stockpile of non- engineered and hybrid seeds. And Howard explains how that is done.

Dr. Philip Howard teaches courses in Community, Food and Agriculture at Michigan State University and is one of the leading researchers into "food systems", tracing the journey of food from farming, processing and distribution to our plates at home.

He spoke at the Third Annual Heirloom Seed Expo on September 11, 2013.