Abstract

In an effort to restrict seed piracy, Monsanto intends to implement some variation of genetic use restriction technology (GURT). Regarding such intentions, many activist groups throughout the world (mainly in the US, Canada, and the UK) adamantly contend that Monsanto and possibly other multinational agrochemical corporations (MACs) will be acting immorally if GURTs, such as Terminator Technology (TT), are implemented in the global agricultural industry. These activists argue that the potential implementation of TT is immoral because it will grant Monsanto the power to wrongfully exploit resource-poor farmers (RPFs) by reducing RPFs to mere means of production. I contend that Monsanto will not necessarily be wrongfully exploiting RPFs through the implementation of TT. More specifically, as long as Monsanto allows these RPFs to make an autonomous choice to use terminator seeds and sponsors public plant breeding initiatives (PPBIs), then Monsanto cannot be accurately considered to be wrongfully exploiting these farmers. There are three main parts to this essay. In the first part, I explain what exploitation is and the conditions that must obtain for it to be immoral from a Kantian perspective. In the second part, I briefly describe a few of the major objections that some activist groups have made regarding the potential implementation of TT. In the third part of this essay, I apply the conception of wrongful exploitation developed below to the current debate concerning the potential implementation of TT in the global agricultural industry.