UNITED STATES - In the continued saga of Neil Young versus Monsanto, the rocker has released a short documentary that highlights the alleged crimes of the agrochemical giant. Seeding Fear, as the film is titled, is only 10-minutes long, but packs a punch by telling the story of farmer Michael White, who defied Monsanto in court after being accused of using the company’s copyrighted GM soya beans. He was one of a number of farmers sued by the huge corporation for copyright infringement.
You can watch the full documentary above.
“The film I would like you to see tells the story of a farming family in America, but the same thing is happening around the world,” Young wrote on his Facebook. “It is a story that takes 10 minutes of your time to see. It is a simple human one, telling the heartbreaking story of one man who fought the corporate behemoth Monsanto.”
Young went on to speak about how the company allegedly controls over 90% of soybean and corn growth in America. He says family farms that have been replaced by giant subsidized farms have been fighting the losing battle for 30 years now.
The film followed Young’s recent album The Monsanto Years, which as we’ve previously reported, addressed similar issues with companies like Wal-Mart and Starbucks as well.
On its company blog, Monsanto responded to the documentary, citing a slew of what they refer to as inaccuracies.
“Mr. White is not transparent in describing his actions or the situation. He actually admitted to knowingly planting, producing, saving, cleaning and selling Roundup Ready® soybeans illegally,” said Monsanto Public Affairs Team Member Nick Weber on the blog. “All of this information is available in court documents, Monsanto Company versus Michael White, Wayne White, White’s Seed Cleaning, and White Farms Feed & Seed.”
Neil Young timed the release of the film to coincide with Thursday’s vote in the House of Representatives on a measure to block mandatory labeling on foods made with GM crops, the Guardian reported. The Safe and Accurate Food Labelling Act, as it has been named by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, still passed by 275-150.
Of course, there's always two sides to every story. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more on this evolving feud.
