I am always a bit skeptical myself. So, I try to find good sources of factual information. I find government agency websites to be good internet sources – USDA, CDC, EPA etc- although they can be difficult to navigate. It is also good to get some historical perspective. People forget (or never knew) that agricultural technology prevents famine and has for centuries. Check out your school library for books on agricultural practices and journal review articles on the subject. Look for subjects like agricultural economics and agricultural pest management. Look for peer reviewed and college textbook type resources. One great thing about being in college is you have access to all kind of very good information. And, when you are not in college, you can visit your local library or university library (state colleges), or extension office to get this type of information. Maybe even try the library of Congress online.

I know I did not answer your question. This blog page has a few other blog sites Monsanto recommends. I have spent a little time browsing them. They seem to me to have positive tones, which, to me, is refreshing. And personally, I like Monsanto’s blog a lot; the facts are sound.

BTW, I think you have a wise Dad.

I don’t have a specific comment about this post as much as I have a sort of general question about getting in contact with you guys (my interest was piqued by reading Jeff’s post, “I Am Monsanto” – unfortunately, I couldn’t post a comment there, so I’ll try here!)

I am currently a chemical & biological engineering student at the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. Naturally, given the demographic and my discipline, I have heard a lot about Monsanto. Indeed, what I have heard, read, and watched has been a little scary, but my father always taught me to be wary of extremists in any form. With politics – or, in this case, social/ethical issues leveraging some degree of political weight – I tend to be more aligned with the left, so I try to be particularly wary of leftist “propaganda”; we are all human, of course, so I can only assume that I’m probably more prone to buy into a story that parallels (perhaps threatens?) my own beliefs more readily than one that does not.

Probably naturally, my first reaction to all of the negative information that I’ve absorbed regarding Monsanto was anger, disgust, sadness, frustration, etc. I even considered making a t-shirt for about five minutes that said “F*** Monsanto” (I’m giggling at the pettiness – and humanness! – of this now). But, come on! What good would that have done?

Plus, as an engineer myself, I all but have to bow to the kinds of feats Monsanto has and can continue to accomplish. I am familiar with – and excited by! – the kinds of agricultural benefits that we, as engineers, can manifest; they are enormous, and can do a lot of good in the world , given a few healthy parameters, of course. Monsanto is in a powerful position to do an unparalleled amount of good; frankly, I would like NOT to believe the kinds of things being said about the company. That being said, however, I do know that, often, extremist information presented through any medium is based, to a certain extent, in fact.

I have since tempered that internal storm, taken my dad’s old adage to heart, and am now posting here because I haven’t yet given you guys a chance. In my mind, the jury is still out on Monsanto. Though what I have seen has illustrated Monsanto in a heavily negative light, my ears and eyes remain open. After all, no reasonable conclusion is ever really met without getting both sides of the story.

The question, then, is where can we have this open, respectful dialogue? I’ll be waiting with much anticipation!

Take care.

In mining, selenium comes to the surface in waste rock. If not controlled properly, it can combine with oxygen and water, then water can carry it from the mine site. This issue affects all phosphate mines in the West in one way or another. As our understanding of the movement of selenium has developed, Monsanto has been working with the EPA, Idaho state officials and mining experts to find the best solutions to protect water quality. We are focused on resolving the cases you speak of.

http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S1074410.shtml?cat=588