User talk:Samm nielsen/sandbox

Hey Sam! First off, great topic! I think this is a great issue to apply a (post) colonial lens, and is really underrepresented in the discourse of colonial critique. Kudos for going after such a cool theme. I had a look at the existing article, and definitely agree there's way more that can be added and the overall article lends itself to much improvement. Again, good job choosing a not-so-popular topic and working on integrating it into the postcolonial arena, not an easy task!

I have done an overall edit (spelling, grammar, sentence structure - not much was needed to be changed) and I have also added some comments and suggestions. I've noted them in your writing with numbers and have listed them below. These are only suggestions to help you improve your overall article addition.

(1) Maybe expand a little further, adding a sentence/phrase to better incorporate the quotation and provide further context in terms of the relationship between farmers and seed providers. (2) If possible, maybe go a little further, explaining the actual cost and how it is affecting their livelihoods, job security, income stability, etc.' (3) This is a great idea! I think it perfectly captures the (post)colonial aspect of corporate/monopolized production, and works well in highlighting how "superior" practices are working as a form of imperialism/homogeny in its efforts to dominate all agricultural practices. I think it may be a good idea to indicate who/where the seed providers are, and how much (if at all) they profit from the sales of seed and production of mono crops. This might add an element of exploitative rationale.

While GMO seeds are praised for their resistance to pests[1], they also present challenges for the farmers using them. Traditionally, farmers have been able to save seeds from one season to the next[2], however, GMO seeds are genetically different than non-GMO seeds. One of the primary differences is the presence of "Terminator Technology"[2]. This difference in genetic composition makes it impossible for seeds from one season to be carried over and replanted in the next[3]. (1)"Year in and year out farmers are losing the seeds from their own plants, and are forced to purchase them anew from seed providers"[4]. Due to altered genetics resulting in the need to buy new seeds new each season, farmers are now incurring costs that once did not exist (2). I want to discuss how the production and sale of GMO seeds furthers the spread of western knowledge in non-western societies. As well as how by replacing the local farmer’s seeds with western seeds is a form of domination over their agricultural practices, but the book I need from the library was not in when I went to go look for it (3).

Kruft, D., (2001). Impacts of Genetically-Modified Crops and Seeds on Farmers. The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center from The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University (Available at: http://law.psu.edu/_file/aglaw/Impacts_ of_Genetically_Modified.pdf).

Ohlgart, S. M. (2002). The terminator gene: Intellectual property rights vs. the farmers' common law right to save seed. Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, 7(2), 473.

Steinbrecher, R. A., & Mooney, P. R. (1998). Terminator technology: The threat to world food security. The Ecologist, 28(5), 276."

"The Privatisation of Seeds | Biodiversity". RESET.to. Retrieved 2017-11-26 (Could not find this reference)

Best of luck with your continued writing! Mferras (talk) 22:26, 26 November 2017 (UTC)