I keep reading about how Monsanto's seeds (and other GM seeds) that become sterile and unusable by farmers, so they are forced to by new seeds every season, even though Monsanto promised to never use those kinds of seeds back in 1999. Can you debunk this myth once and for all?

Expert response from Kelly Clauss

Global Communications Strategy Lead, IT, Bayer Crop Science

Thursday, 15/08/2013 14:41

We have never developed a biotech trait that resulted in sterile – or “Terminator” – seeds.  And, this is one myth that is easy to debunk.  In October 1999, then-Monsanto CEO Robert Shapiro made a very public commitment in an “open letter” to the Rockefeller Foundation stating that we would not to commercialize technologies that result in sterile seeds in food crops.  We have no plans or research that would violate this commitment. 

Following are several links to information on our web site if you’d like to learn more:

• The October 1999 “Open Letter” from then-Monsanto CEO Robert Shapiro to the Rockefeller Foundation in which we made our very public commitment
• Background on “Terminator” seeds