Monthly Archives: June 2012

The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 12: Consumer Protection

Intellectual property protection is an extremely important to the seed industry.  It is good to see the call for sweeping reform that was present in the 2008 Democratic Platform has not reappeared. The objection to the current legal status of … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 11: Natural Resources/Environment

Those who support the intrinsic value of nature frequently want to be able to legally represent nature.  In so doing, in reality, they are speaking for themselves, because nature does not express itself.  The Republican Party in rejecting the rights … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 10: National Defense and Foreign Policy or International Relations/ Affairs with Peace and Security

In addition to the possible threat that international law might influence U.S. law on the use of biotechnology or intellectual property rights, the seed industry should be concerned with the Democratic Party plank calling for support for trade agreements which … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 9: Law and Justice or Economy, Commerce & Labor

When  it comes to the regulation of biotechnology it is very much to the advantage of the seed industry not have U.S. Law influenced by current international legal precedent.  The rest of the world in this case is getting it … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 8: Health & Human Services; Consumer Choice and Food Safety

The tendency of the modern Democratic Party and allied activist organizations is to define problems, give the public an awareness of them, and then call on government to solve them, frequently solve them with considerable expense and complexity.  In public … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 7: Government

There does not seem to be much controversy over the constitutionality of the laws regulating biotechnology. Resistance to the broad support for regulation which American liberalism and the Democratic Party has found in the commerce clause could conceivably have some effect … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 6: Energy and Transportation

Use of corn and oil crops for fuel production creates a floor under demand and prices for the crops which are the bread and butter of the seed industry.  Government support for the use of crops for fuel helps to … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 5: Education

The Republican platform elevation of science-based government does not extend to education.  The existence of some factual support for the biblical account of creation does not make creationism a viable scientific theory.  I personally think that religious instruction is a … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 4: Business and Economic Development or Economy, Commerce & Labor

Innovation has a special place in the seed industry. The Republican platform contributors trust in the role of innovation to contribute to the solution of environmental challenges. The Democratic platform has a tendency to address environmental and social challenges with regulation assuming … Continue reading

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The Seed Industry and Iowa Political Platforms 2008-2012 Part 3: Agriculture or Sustainable Rural Development

The new Republican plank supporting science-based regulation of agriculture is a welcome addition for the seed industry.  It should be helpful in discussions concerning the labeling of biotech products. The libertarian faction within the Republican Party has apparently settled on … Continue reading

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