Astonishingly, these vents are the focus for a web of organisms which have evolved in this pitch black world to use the minerals as a source of energy, entirely independent of sunlight and photosynthesis. The largest extinction known was at the end of the Permian Period about 250 million years ago. The American burger giant offers identical food in most countries of the world. One variety of one crop only. Maize was traditionally grown in Mexico by local farmers who knew that it yielded better, more reliable crops if beans and squash vines were interplanted with it.
Monocultures are anathema to biodiversity.
Attempts have also been made to patent seeds from seed banks which are maintained on a non-profit basis for the benefit of all humankind. See also Biopiracy. Stealing plant, animal or human genetic resources from other countries or cultures in order to make money. The phrase was coined by Vandana Shiva, scourge of the biotechnology industry and founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, New Delhi, India. WTO rules can damage biodiversity.