Monsanto maintains a current ethical culture that can effectively respond to various
the environment during their early years and their attempt to separate themselves from the past
rather than acknowledging their mistakes has been disappointing to many stakeholders.
Monsanto executives should acknowledge the ineffective ways they handled social responsibility
in the past and show stakeholders the steps they have taken, today, to ensure those mistakes are
not repeated.
Additionally, Monsanto needs to be transparent in how they pursue farmers that are
suspected of violating their patent rights. The article titled “Harvest of Fear” reports some
unethical practices performed by Monsanto paid investigators. Stakeholders view these tactics
as intimidating and uncalled for. These types of practices increase the negative perceptions of
the company. Monsanto should take less extreme actions when protecting their patents in order
for stakeholders to change their perceptions of the company.
Costs and Benefits of Growing GMO Seed
The benefits of growing GM seeds are that they increase crop yields on less land and they
are resistant to damaging insects and weed killing herbicides. Another benefit is how GM seeds
handle drought conditions. The farmer spends less time maintaining the GM seed crops and is
able to invest the extra time in other non-GM crops. Additionally, greater crop yields have
increased farmer revenues domestically and abroad.
A potential negative consequence of growing GM seeds is environmental contamination.
“Bees and other insects and wind carry a crops’ seeds to other areas, sometimes to fields
Efficacy of Monsanto’s Ethical Culture
stakeholders, however, their past behavior is at best questionable. Their deliberate disregard for
containing non-GM crops” (Ferrel, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2013. p. 312). This type of
contamination is especially harmful to farmers who grow organic crops. Once the GM seeds mix
with the organic crop it is difficult for the farmer to differentiate them.
Another negative consequence is consumer concern over toxicity. An article titled “Even
Small Doses of Popular Weed Killer Fatal to Frogs” on Science Daily states although the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) has proclaimed GM food is safe to consume, some stakeholders
believe Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide’s main ingredient, glyphosate, is the third main cause of
illness among California agriculture workers. The article also states that the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) lists glyphosate as having low skin and oral toxicity; and a study from
the New York Medical College states Roundup does not create health risks to humans. However,
consumer perception regarding genetically altered foods is that they are harmful. Stakeholders
will be more at ease if Monsanto provides more substantial scientific evidence regarding the
safety of GM seeds.
Management of Harm to Plants and Animals
Many stakeholders are concerned over the health effects of Roundup on beneficial insects
and plants, particularly over the damaging effect pollinating GM seeds will have on nearby
insects and plants (Ferrel, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2013. p.310). Even more concerning is the
possibility of weed and insect resistance to Monsanto’s herbicides and pesticides. Some weeds
have already been found to resist the herbicides.
The government has provided guidelines/requirements to farmers who crop GM seeds to
help control an outbreak of “super bugs” and “super weeds”. For example, 20 percent of a
farmer’s field should be planted with non-GM crops in an effort to prevent a new race of bugs.
Additionally, farmers are required to vary herbicide use and practice crop rotations regularly
(Ferrel, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2013. p. 312).
Stakeholders feel Monsanto has not done enough to minimize the effects its products
have on the environment. They feel Monsanto should increase their efforts in protecting animals
and plants from its herbicides and pesticides by looking into reformulating their Roundup
products to more environmentally friendly chemicals.
References
Bartlett, D. L., & Steele, J. B. (2008, May 5). Monsanto's Harvest of Fear. Retrieved September
14, 2014, from Vanity Fair:
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805
Ferrel, O., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2013). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and
Cases (9th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western.
University of Pittsburgh. (2005, August 4). Even Small Doses of Popular Weed Killer Fatal to
Frogs, Scientist Finds. Retrieved September 14, 2014, from ScienceDaily:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050804053212.htm
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