Food, Inc. Discussion Guide - TakePart

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S o c r at i c D i s c u s s i o nF o c u s Q u e s t i o nShould companies be able to own the DNA contained in plant seeds?After viewing this film chapter, ask students to name some of the issues raisedabout genetically modified organisms. Ask them whether they think companiesshould be able to own the genetic material contained in plant seeds. What mightbe arguments for each side?D e e p e n i n g Q u e s t i o n s• From Monsanto’s perspective, it is expensive to develop new seeds like these,and the seeds save farmers time and enable them to produce more soybeans.What might be the consequences—both positive and negative—of thecompany owning the genetic information in the seed?• How does this situation compare to downloading music from “free” sites?• How does it compare to the Microsoft monopoly case in which Microsoftwas accused of having an unfair competitive advantage when it requiredconsumers to buy both its Web browser and computer operating systemtogether?• Intellectual property can be defined as creations of the mind—such as music,art, writing, inventions, symbols, images, designs, or names—that havecommercial value. In our country, these things are legally protected andcannot be sold or used without the permission of the owner. Do you thinkpeople should be able to own an idea? Why or why not?• Saving seeds from each year’s crop is a tradition farmers have followed forthousands of years. Think of a tradition that has been in your family for a longtime. What if you could no longer have this tradition because someone nowlegally claims it as theirs?74F o o d , I n c . D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E© P a r t i c i p a n t M e d i a
• Why might we care whether Monsanto or another company owns the DNA inseeds?• Do you think it is fair that the one farmer had to settle (say he was guilty)because that was cheaper than trying to fight Monsanto’s lawsuit? Why or whynot?• The film includes an image of Lady Justice holding scales, with the side that isable to put the most money on the scales depicted as the winner. What do youthink of that image?R e f l e c t i o nHave students consider what it would be like if people could buy and sell DNA oneBay, and then write a short story illustrating the possible implications.I d e a s f o r A c t i o n• Help students investigate seed banks or other organizations working to saveseeds. For each organization, find out the goals and purposes of their seedsaving efforts, who they work with, and how they go about saving seeds.• Invite students to search for other examples of companies owning somethingthat was traditionally in the public domain. (One example is water, which usedto be a resource anyone could access, but now many companies own waterrights and make money from selling it. Another is sports teams, which wereoften community-owned, but are now mostly owned by companies or privateindividuals.) What are the consequences of these things being owned bycompanies?• Have students write a position paper on whether people should be able toown or copyright an idea, including the pros and cons of their position. Forbackground, see Mann, Charles C. “Who Will Own Your Next Good Idea?” TheAtlantic Monthly Online. September 1998. www.theatlantic.com/issues/98sep/copy.htm.7 5F o o d , I n c . D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E© P a r t i c i p a n t M e d i a
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L e t t e r f r o m Z e n o b i a B
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U s i n g t h i s G u i d eThis gui
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N at i o n a l S ta n d a r d s C o
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g Analyze the extent to which group
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About SocraticDiscussionsFood, Inc.
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to a deeper understanding of the is
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A s s e s s i n g S o c r at i c D
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2 2F o o d , I n c . D I S C U S S
Page 24 and 25: In this factory farming model, a si
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Page 39 and 40: c h a p t e r 3Unintended Consequen
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Page 60 and 61: R e f l e c t i o nThe film describ
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Page 71 and 72: C h a p t e r 7From Seed to theSupe
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Page 79 and 80: c h a p t e r 8The VeilS y n o p s
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Page 96 and 97: ResourcesFor additional information
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Page 102 and 103: A b o u t P a r t i c i p a n t M e
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Food, Inc. Discussion Guide - TakePart

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