GM investors told to sell their shares Paul Brown and John Vidal Europe's biggest bank has advised the world's largest investors to sell their shares in leading companies involved in the development of genetically modified organisms because consumers do not want to buy their products. More broadly speaking, it appears the food companies, retailers, grain processors, and governments are sending a signal to the seed producers that 'we are not ready for GMOs'. Since the report was circulated to investors, shares in companies named have fallen against a rising trend in stock markets generally and the frenzy to takeover seed companies has stopped.
Domestic concerns regarding ag-biotechnology are clearly on the rise.
For the most part, though, it has not gotten the attention of the ordinary US citizen, but when it does - look out. Non-GMO grains were already gaining a premium price which would, if the trend continued, far outweigh any economic benefit in growing GMOs. GM grains would have to be sold at a discount. The concerns of European consumers are real, concludes the report. Therefore hearing from unsophisticated Americans that their fears are unfounded may not be the best way of proceeding.