Corporate Crops

Biotechnology, Agriculture, and the Struggle for Control

By: Gabriela Pechlaner

Narrated by: Lisa Baney

Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Biotechnology crop production area increased from 1.7 million hectares to 148 million hectares worldwide between 1996 and 2010. While genetically modified food is a contentious issue, the debates are usually limited to health and environmental concerns, ignoring the broader questions of social control that arise when food production methods become corporate-owned intellectual property. Drawing on legal documents and dozens of interviews with farmers and other stakeholders, Corporate Crops covers four case studies based around litigation between biotechnology corporations and farmers. Pechlaner investigates the extent to which the proprietary aspects of biotechnologies-from patents on seeds to a plethora of new rules and contractual obligations associated with the technologies-are reorganizing crop production.

The lawsuits include patent infringement litigation launched by Monsanto against a Saskatchewan canola farmer who, in turn, claimed his crops had been involuntarily contaminated by the company's GM technology; a class action application by two Saskatchewan organic canola farmers launched against Monsanto and Aventis (later Bayer) for the loss of their organic market due to contamination with GMOs; and two cases in Mississippi in which Monsanto sued farmers for saving seeds containing its patented GM technology. Pechlaner argues that well-funded corporate lawyers have a decided advantage over independent farmers in the courts and in creating new forms of power and control in agricultural production. Corporate Crops demonstrates the effects of this intersection between the courts and the fields where profits, not just a food supply, are reaped.

©2012 University of Texas Press (P)2015 Redwood Audiobooks

Excellent, natural narration

Any additional comments?

As a long-time audiobook listener, I've found that some non-fiction narrators read with noticeable affectation, perhaps hoping that a particular tone and articulation will add import. It was refreshing to find that such is not the case with Lisa Baney's narration. Her voice and pacing seem natural, complementing the material rather than competing with it. Her crisp, straightforward presentation made complex information easier to understand. Excellent performance!

Too academic

This is a missed opportunity to engage a wider audience, by writing a very dry text about an otherwise exciting topic.
There are authors that manage to convert well-researched, serious topics in to engaging accounts, even narrations.
This is not one of them.
It was painful listening.
Not recommended, unless you are looking for an academic text; but then the audio format is not appropriate.

Dreary

This is one of the most dreary books I have ever encountered. It is like reading legal briefs, but not as exciting.

Fine voice, clear reading

Miss Baney's flexible voice and fine intelligence makes a complex subject easier to follow. One can appreciate the nuances of a topic that could become overly emotional if not read with understanding and balance. Well done!