Terminator leaves second-generation seeds sterile.
From the beginning, we questioned why USDA would invest taxpayer dollars in such a technology. After all, the sole purpose of the development of terminator was an economic one, so that seed companies can force farmers to purchase new seed every year.'' While there is a legitimate debate going on within many agricultural associations about the benefits versus risks of genetically modified crops and the uncertainty over marketability, segregation and legal liability, there is mostly unanimity among these same groups over their opposition to the Terminator. The motives of the biotechnology companies are transparent when it comes to terminator, with their economic gain being the only motive involved with no benefit for the American farmer or the rest of the world. This debate is important because it brings to the forefront the discussion of just what the Department of Agriculture should be and who should the Department represent. The ACGA believes that USDA should be an advocacy agency, working to protect those Americans who devote their lives to producing food for the rest of the U.S. and most of the world and that works to protect all our citizens through the production and distribution of a safe food supply,'' added Goldberg.