Negative Effects of Monsanto's GMO on Small Scale Farmers

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MONSANTO’S GMO ON SMALL SCALE FARMERS
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In Argentina, herbicide spraying and GM soy cultivation were associated with birth defects, miscarriages, and malformation in children (Library of Congress n.d.). Some of the cases are so severe that medical procedures were necessary to prevent death (Organic Consumer Association 2018). With Monsanto selling the chemical inputs expensively, farmers are left with meagre income that cannot cover medical expenses.
Monsanto has put efforts in destroying scientific studies linking its chemicals to health problems. The company spearheaded campaigns against studies by Gilles-Eric Seralini that showed Roundup was associated with disorders of sex hormones and breast tumours (Seralini 2020). Such studies can validate claims by small scale farmers on the negative health impacts of Monsanto’s products.
GM crops threaten the independence of small scale farmers. The production of GM seeds and accompanying chemicals is controlled by Monsanto and farmers in Brazil feel they do not have control over their agricultural production (Almeida, Massarani, and Moreira 2015).
In India, about 300,000 farmers committed suicide in the last two decades as a result of poverty due to the cultivation of Monsanto seeds (Thomas and Tavernier 2017). The company ensured that Indian f...