| − | '''Terminator seeds''' are the [[seeds]] of [[plants]] that have been [[genetically engineered]] to to switch off a plant's ability to [[germinate]] a second time. Some consider this merely to be a a business tactic that forces farmers to buy a new supply of seeds each year instead of allowing what plants they have left over from the harvest to reproduce naturally. One possible advantage however is that use of terminator seeds can prevent the escape of genetically modified plants into the wild. This technology, developed during the 1990s, is not yet commercially available. | + | '''Terminator seeds''' are the [[seeds]] of [[plants]] that have been [[genetically engineered]] (most commonly by [[Monsanto]]) to to switch off a plant's ability to [[germinate]] a second time. Some consider this merely to be a a [[greed]]y [[business]] tactic that forces [[farmer]s to buy a new supply of seeds each year instead of allowing what plants they have left over from the harvest to [[reproduce]] naturally. One possible advantage to [[Monsanto]] however is that use of terminator seeds can prevent the escape of genetically modified plants into the wild. This technology, developed during the 1990s by [[Monsanto]], is not yet commercially available. |