Monsanto falls from grace and Dr Joseph Mercola is pleased
Leading natural health advocate Dr Joseph Mercola, and one of Monsanto's greatest critics, is ecstatic to see the company he hates so much suffer.
Dr Mercola has posted the news of Monsanto's apparent turn of fortunes on his website Mercola.com - which he claims is the world's number one natural health website.
Like other natural health advocates, Dr Mercola has long been an opponent of genetically modified foods.
"Monsanto isn't riding so high this year in the stocks department, as news comes in that its products aren't working like they'd hoped," Dr Mercola writes.
"According to the New York Times, weeds are becoming immune to Monsanto's herbicide Roundup, and its latest genetically modified, 8-gene corn is a flop, producing yields no higher than the company's less expensive corn, which contains only three foreign genes."
The Times reports that Monsanto has been forced to sharply cut prices on SmartStax and on its newest soybean seeds, called Roundup Ready 2 Yield, as sales fell below projections.
The US Justice Department is investigating Monsanto for possible antitrust violations, the Times reported.
"Until now, Monsanto's main challenge has come from opponents of genetically modified crops, who have slowed their adoption in Europe and some other regions," Dr Mercola writes. "Now, however, the sceptics also include farmers and investors who were once in Monsanto's camp."
Monsanto was named "company of the year" by Forbes Magazine in December. Last week, television stock market commentator Jim Cramer said it "may be the worst stock of 2010," the Times said.
"Since the 1980s, Monsanto has become the world leader in genetic modification of seeds, succeeding in at least 674 biotechnology patents, more than any other company - and they showed no signs of stopping - until now," Dr Mercola said."
There's always an end to every trail ride as the cows are brought to market... or perhaps sheep is the more apt biblical symbolism?
Round 'em up, Rawhide!