Monsanto'spatent on Rounup runs out in the year 2000, but any farmer who adoptsRoundup Ready seeds must agree to buy only Monsanto's brand ofRoundup herbicide. To make Roundup Ready Technology legal, the USEvironmental Protection Agency had to accommodate Monsanto bytripling the allowable residues of Roundup that can remain on thecrop. This increase of chemicals used on crops can lead to thedevelopment of resistance in insect pests, and knock on effects tothe wider ecosystem. It is possible that resistance will reach such alevel that these chemicals which world farming rely on will becomeuseless. There are other risks involved with genetic engineering.
Genes cantravel to nearby, related plants on their own.
This is called geneflow. In 1996 gene flow was discovered to be much more common thatpreviously thought. According to Science magazine, many ecologistssay it is only a matter of time before an engineered gene makes theleap to a weedy species, thus creating a new weed or invigorating anold one. Most people are opposed to genetic engineering. Of course there is resistance to this because the GMcompanies believe correctly that the majority of people would not buyGM food if it were clearly labelled.