One of Monsanto's uses for biotechnology is Round-up Ready crops. Mr. Shapiro and the life science companies say we need to feed the world. I say that the world needs to be fed. For corporations, feeding the world means control of the food system. For the world to be fed, we merely need to empower farmers to provide food through knowledge and information.
Corporations think in terms of volume sales, economies of scale, export to other countries.
Local food systems will promote jobs, health, and security for families, neighborhoods, and communities. The life science companies say we cannot feed the world and prevent people from starving without biotechnology, because we are running out of land and must increase productivity. Government intervention and lack of transportation infrastructures keep people from getting access to this food. Lack of knowledge and the move to large industrial agriculture has kept this country from developing a sustainable system. If you look at the big picture, a localized, sustainable community system wins hands down over the other way, because it empowers farmers to succeed, and causes an increase in farmer numbers.