Monsanto Attempts to Balance Stakeholder Interests, Essay Example

Monsanto has not been able to maintain an ethical culture when it comes to bribery and patent issues. As a result, response to stakeholders has been hampered, and this has led to reduction in reputational levels for the company. Therefore, various stakeholders have opted to go to Monsanto’s competitors, which have reduced their revenues. Moreover, ethical and legal issues have also risen due to the bribery and patent issues facing the company, which has resulted in reduced efficiency in terms of serving their customers (farmers) among other stakeholders.

GM seeds are beneficial to farmers because it has increased their crop yields. Conversely, losses have been reduced since on less land more crops are grown and less is left to chance. For farmers, this is good because their income is doubled. Furthermore, the seeds developed by Monsanto for planting are drought-tolerant, kill invasive weeds by themselves and ward off weeds by using herbicides Roundup Ready. In addition, food production has been increased by farmers due to the increased availability and quantity of crops. This has really revolutionized the agricultural industry. In terms of consuming, these seeds or GM crops are harmful to human health and brings about negative health consequences. The other worry is on beneficial plants and insects, in regards to pollination activities.

In countering such arguments, Monsanto has questioned the methodology used in the studies. Therefore, the “super bugs” have been combated by the government by ensuring that farmer’s plant 20 percent of their fields with crops that are not genetically modified. By so doing, they allow bugs that are nonresistant to mate with the resistant ones. Hence, they will be preventing the occurrence of new super bugs race. As a result, it is essential for farmers to vary their use of herbicides, and they are encouraged to practice crop rotation.