http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/JE15Dj02.html

Once upon a time, genetically engineered foods were touted as the greatest gift science had to offer humanity. The unexpected consumer backlash against these goods never gave them the chance to clean up the environment or feed the entire world. However, climate change is beginning to kill off crops or make growing conditions inhospitable. Could genetically engineered food be the answer to the looming food crisis brought on by climate change?

According to a new report from ETC Group, the world's largest seed and agrochemical corporations such as Monsanto, BASF, DuPont, Syngenta, Bayer and Dow, along with biotech partners such as Mendel, Ceres and Evogene, are stockpiling hundreds of patents and patent applications on crop genes related to environmental stress tolerance at patent offices around the world. They have acquired a total of 55 patent families corresponding to 532 patents and patent applications.

In the face of climate chaos and a deepening world food crisis, the gene giants are gearing up for a public relations offensive to rebrand themselves as climate saviors. The companies hope to convince governments and reluctant consumers that genetic engineering is the essential adaptation strategy to insure agricultural productivity. 

In the words of Keith Jones of CropLife International, an industry-supported non-profit organization, "GM foods are exactly the technology that may be necessary to counter the effects of global warming." But rather than an effective way to confront climate change, these so-called "climate-ready" crops will be used to drive farmers and governments onto a proprietary biotech platform.

Looks like its time to buy stock in the companies mentioned above!

Asia Times; May 15, 2008

Submitted by B. Shapiro