Monsanto Case Study Research
Introduction
The issue of genetically modified foods has been a subject of great debate since the GMOs started being sold on the markets. Contrary to popular belief, genetic modification of organisms is not a contemporary phenomenon. Human beings have been modifying organisms for centuries. Human beings used traditional modification mechanisms such as selective breeding and cross-breeding since circa 8000 BCE (FDA, 2020). Genetic engineering, which is the main method of producing GMOs, advanced after the discovery of DNA in the mid-20th century. In 1994, the first genetically modified food, a slow ripening tomato, was marketed. Since then, many biotechnology companies have been formed, and the largest of them all is Monsanto. Formed in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1901, Monsanto was initially a chemical factory, specializing in producing artificial sweeteners. The company diversified its products. The company faced its main obstacle in the 1970s when Agent Orange was sued for its destruction of the environment and presence of carcinogens, which adversely affected the Vietnam War veterans.
The Agent Orange experience prompted the company to change course and focus on biotechnology. The company soon started producing soybean, cotton, and canola seeds, which were resistant to its herbicides hence allowing farmers to use the herbicide to kill weeds while sparing the crop. The company reformed itself and concentrated its focus on agriculture. However, scandals rocked the company because of its dangerous disposal of chemicals. The company then shifted its focus to GM foods. The emphasis on biotechnology changed the company’s fortunes as the company established itself as one of the most innovative biotechnological companies with their GM seeds that revolutionized agriculture in both developed and developing countries. The company adopted a firm adherence to a culture of ethicality. However, debate still rages on the benefits vis a vis demerits of GMOs. Monsanto, as a forerunner in the biotech industry, thus has a responsibility to manage any potential harm that may be caused by GMOs.
Question One
Monsanto, like every other major company, faces legal issues. Monsanto, in particular, has had a history of unethical behavior. Most famously, the Agent Orange scandal, where Agent Orange, a chemical produced by Monsanto, was proven carcinogens that adversely affected American soldiers in Vietnam (Robin, 2014). Monsanto has also been embroiled in legal issues with competitors like DuPont, which accused the company of anti-competitive approaches.
Despite these accusations that have raised questions over the ethical approaches of Monsanto to stakeholders, the company still tries to practice ethical practices that can effectively respond to the various stakeholders. This can be seen with its approaches to corporate responsibility. For example, Monsanto has given large amounts of money to countries with transitioning economies around the money where they do business. In this way, Monsanto has improved the lives of the people in the communities where they operate.
Furthermore, Monsanto has implemented a Code of Business Conduct aimed at guiding the company’s ethical culture and fostering integrity and openness in its activities and the activities of stakeholders. This code of business conduct is the one that is largely to thank for the positive change in the public’s perception of the company (Shaeffer & O’Neill, 2013). By adhering to a Code of Business Conduct, Monsanto has shown its dedication in ensuring that it conducts its activities fairly and judiciously. Monsanto also introduced a Code of Conduct for its top-level managers. In doing so, Monsanto ensured that its management conducted itself with integrity hence protecting the employees and the communities where Monsanto performs its business. Most importantly, this Code of Conduct protects the shareholders of Monsanto from nefarious activities by the management of the Monsanto. Additionally, Monsanto adopted the Huma Rights policy in 2006. This was aimed at responding to the needs of its employees who form a critical section of the shareholders. The Human Rights Policy ensures that the employees and those in the Monsanto supply chain are treated humanely. Monsanto also made a pledged to create, foster, and uphold a conducive working environment.
Question 2
Although the world is slowly accepting the use of GMOs as a source of food, there still exists plenty of criticism about the dangers and potential dangers of GMOs, an issue that is certainly a concern for Monsanto. Among the benefits of GMOs is that GMOs have significantly increased crop yields. GM seeds are engineered to produced higher yields. Therefore, farmers who use GM seeds have reported an increase in yields, which is good for the world’s food security. According to studies, the world needs to quickly find ways to increase its food yield as the population increases, and GM crops may be the only way to go. The other benefit is that GM seeds are that they produce crops that can grow in large quantities on small pieces of land. Because of this feature, GM seeds save farmers a lot of money that would have been used to tend to crops on large tracts of land. Additionally, as the population increases, pressure on land increases as human beings, animals and plants compete for land. In this way, Monsanto products have made their products the go-to product for poor farmers (Glover 2008).
GM crops have also faced significant criticisms. One of the major criticism of GM crops is that GM foods have adverse moral and safety consequences. Because GM foods are a relatively contemporary phenomenon, critics of GM foods argue that there has not been enough research that can establish the long term effects of consuming GM foods. Furthermore, critics have argued that the ability of GM seeds such as Monsanto seeds to produce their Roundup, a herbicide, implies that the foods are toxic. The presence of the chemical glyphosate in Roundup, which is a cause of illness, has coalesced these claims of toxicity.
The adverse environmental effects of GM products have also raised criticism against GM products. Studies have shown that some GM seeds, when used with herbicides such as Roundup, pose a danger to pollinators such as insects and birds. While killing pests, the pesticides used for GM crops also inadvertently kill pollen carriers such as bees. If these pollinators are eliminated from the ecosystem, then plant life is at great risk. Other research projects have also revealed that herbicides such as Roundup, which are used for GM crops are harmful to the human body. GM crops have also received complaints from organic farmers. They claim that pollen from nearby GM farms contaminates their organic plants by creating new genetic variations of plants, which could be detrimental to the environment.
The other major demerit that haunts GM products is weed and pest resistance in GM crops. GM crops have significantly saved farmers from using pesticides because of their genetically engineered ability to get rid of weeds and harmful insects (Whipple, 1999). However, detractors have argued that persistent use of chemicals will lead to the emergence of weeds and pests that are resistant to pesticides and herbicides. This argument has been supported by research that has revealed that some weeds have become resistant to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. Resistant pests and weeds could be devastating to the global agricultural economy.
Question 3
As a major player in biotechnology, Monsanto has a responsibility to manage potential harm caused by its products, such as Roundup. Accusations against Roundup have revolved around the dangers it poses to the human body, the environment, and the fact that some weeds have started becoming resistant to the herbicide. All these effects of Roundup, if not managed, can prove catastrophic to agriculture and the world’s food security. One way through which Monsanto can manage these harmful effects is by funding research into correcting the harmful effects of Roundup. The research can involve studies reducing the toxicity of Roundup to human beings and the environment. Monsanto can also dedicate itself to supporting organizations that are researching the conservation of bees and other pollinators. While research has shown that Roundup has led to the elimination of insects and birds, it certainly is not the only pesticide that has caused the dip in the number of bees. By coming together with these organizations, Monsanto can be part of conservation effort while they research ways to reduce the harmful effects of their products. Most importantly, Monsanto also has to begin work on replacing Roundup with a more humanistic and eco-friendly approach to biotechnology.
Conclusion
Monsanto is the largest biotechnology company in the world courtesy of the success of its Monsanto seeds. The company grew from a chemical manufacturer into a major player in the biotechnology industry. Although the company has faced a number of serious legal challenges, it has strived to be a company that adhered to ethical standards and responds to the needs of its stakeholders. Contemporarily, the company is lauded for its community-driven approaches. However, even with this public approval, GM products are still a controversial topic. Given that GM products such as Roundup have been proven to have negative effects on human beings and the ecosystem, it is essential for Monsanto to engage in managing the harms caused by its products. GM products are here to stay, and Monsanto as a leader in the field, has a huge responsibility in ensuring that a world with GM products is a safe world for human beings and the ecosystem.
References
FDA. (2020, April 22). Science and History of GMOs and Other Food Modification Processes. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-food-modification-processes
Glover, D. (2008). Made by Monsanto: the Corporate Shaping of GM Crops as a Technology for the Poor.
Schaefer, J., Hannibal, E., & O’Neill, J. (2003). How strategy, culture, and improved service delivery reshaped Monsanto’s international assignment program. Journal of Organizational Excellence, 22(3), 35-42.
Robin, M. M. (2014). The world according to Monsanto: pollution, corruption, and the control of our food supply. The New Press.
Whipple, D. (1999). Seeds of controversy. The Futurist, 33(8), 10.