He's a corn geneticist. I grew up in a town where EVERYBODY's daddy worked in the automotive industry, so I got odd looks when I said "My Daddy is a corn breeder."
As a result, I know a heck of a lot about genetics and biotechnology just from talking with my Daddy.
I'm very proud of my Dad and the work he does. He's been very lucky to be able to travel around the world for his job, and he's a widely respected breeder. He's been to Hawaii, Chile, Italy, China, and South Africa for his company. It's been hard, because the intensity of his work keeps him stressed and away from his family often, but Dad sees it all as worthwhile. He believes his work helps feed the world. And it does! Thanks to biotechnology, growing food is getting more environmentally friendly while increasing yields so that people and animals have enough to eat.
I personally think that the government should invest some of their energy funding into crop-based fuels. It could be done!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Um, they do. Biodiesel from soybeans and ethanol from corn.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Yes, I know. But they don't do enough. Imagine if that research were funded with as much resources and passion as they put into finding oil and other non-renewable energy sources. I think our current administration could do better than the current energy policies.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Monsanto has a plant close to my house here in MA.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
*grin* I live 30 miles from Iowa State University. So I see a lot more energy and passion put into crop-based research than, well, just about anything, really. I’m sure you’re right that nationally a lot more is focused on oil, but you wouldn’t know it from our local media.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Only one? Usually there are lots of plants in a field...
What kind of a plant? How is it received in your community? I know Monsanto has been out of favor a lot lately with environmentalists and people who don't really understand the science of biotech.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Coolness, dkw. Of course you ARE in the middle of Corn Country...
Posted by Portabello (Member # 7710) on :
I've read that while we can create fuel like biodiesel, modern farming techniques use so much fuel that there is no way to make it economically feasable (assuming that you run your tractors, etc. off of biodiesel or the like).
Does anybody know where to read more about that?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
We'd have to develop new engines, I think. And develop fuels that are easier to refine. And see if we can make them less polluting.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
My good friend (and now boss) was a contractor for Monsanto and helped develop their Geneome Project.
Being in St. Louis, I pass Monsanto's headquarters several times a week.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
From my dad's perspective, Monsanto administration is annoying. They seem to be so far from the field that they put unrealistic expectations on their breeders. But the work that is being done is exciting and promising. And corn breeders are pretty much Good People.
What really gets my dad going, though, is when people come in and destroy crops or property to make a political or environmental point. Monsanto's workers have to take all sorts of ridiculous precautions to keep wackos from coming in and messing with their field trials. And they go way overboard with safety protocol. If you sneeze, you might have to fill out something for OSHA and the company lawyers... (exaggeration, but not by much).
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Jenny This is exactly the type of work my oldest son is interested in getting into when he graduates from college next year. Could he maybe talk (via e-mail) with your dad?
Actually, he was just offered a position here locally with an ethanol plant -- but he turned it down because 1)he still has a very full year of college left 2) it is just working in the lab, testing the ethanol blend, etc. He wants to work with the seeds themselves -- work with plants and germination and all that stuff. There are Monsanto divisions in our state, but I don't know how many of them do the breeding-type programs.
Farmgirl
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Wow! Dad's currently working with local groups (Like Future Farmers of America and Farm Bureau) to develop internship programs in the industry. I don't know what jobs are available where he works (just outside Indianapolis), but I'll see my dad this weekend for Mother's Day. I'll ask him where I can send bright, eager young folk who want to do breeding! I'm sure he'd be happy to let your son know what's out there.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Thanks -- I just sent you an e-mail with some contact info. Appreciate it!
FG
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Farmgirl, here's a linky to the "careers" page. There are some videos and pdf brochures you can click on, and lots of info about the company. Hope it's helpful! I also fired off an e-mail to my daddy.
Edit to add: There's also a link to "College Recruiting: Co-Ops and Interns". If you click on it, it tells about opportunities and job openings.
[ May 05, 2005, 11:40 AM: Message edited by: Jenny Gardener ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
uh.....link?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
If you search, you'll find there's an opening for a seed technician in Kihei, Hawaii...
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
quote: I know Monsanto has been out of favor a lot lately with environmentalists and people who don't really understand the science of biotech.
*raises eyebrow*
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
quote:Like Future Farmers of America and Farm Bureau
The name was changed in 1988 from the Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization to reflect changes in the character of the agricultural industry. The FFA creed was also changed to reflect these changes. Today's FFA is a dynamic organization that represents all aspects of agriculture; from agriscience to marketing to agricultural sales and service. It's not just a club for production agriculture and farm owners anymore!
*giggle*
You know how many times I had to make that speech and how many people were still entirely baffled when I was done?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Most of the public is grossly misinformed about a lot of the hot-button issues surrounding biotech and GMOs. Not YOU, BtL, I'm sure! Not most Hatrackers, either. But a lot of people get all nervous about GMOs without understanding the technology behind it.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I have several cousins in the organization, Annie, so I can imagine! Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
Heh, I largely agree with you JG, the public doesn't really understand what's going on with GMOs.
The biggest problem, I think, is that the science has been around long enough that people are becoming comfortable with it and forgetting that we don't really understand what we're doing. There will be, I think, a Thalidomide case for the biotech business that will drastically change how go about production and shape our safety laws. Unfortunately, you can't recall an organism. It's a disaster waiting to happen, how big of one *shrug* who knows?
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