Bigger, softer, less-nutritious tomatoes, with higher acreage yields, faster growing, bacteria-resistant, high-yield corn, barley and wheat that will grow in climates and regions unnatural to these cash crops.  Human possibility for manipulating and “controlling” Mother Nature’s formula’s are infinite, virtually untapped, dangerous and possibly beneficial to mankind as a group if implemented properly.

  Scientists prod, poke and alter experimentally processes of nature that have operated successfully and efficiently for millions of years, without the intervention of god-like humans trying to discover and understand the hidden mechanisms of the universe’s inner clockwork.

    But, just how much about the possible results of their experiments are the scientists today aware of before their inquiries begin.  An experiment by experiment comparison of results would clear up this question, the results indicate that accuracy in scientific inquiry is more likely the result of chance, than human genius, while this doesn’t invalidate the results obtained, it does give us an indication of just how much about the results of their scientific inquiries they do understand.   “The more we discover, the less we understand.  Beyond every door of scientific discovery, lies another hallway of doors, each with its own hallway and set of doors of discover.”  (Warren Hayashi)

  Scientists of ages past hid their discoveries and associated beliefs from the fearful eye of traditional religions and associations, behind jargon or code, renouncing their beliefs if questioned by authorities.  Scientists of today hide their discoveries behind corporate borders, professional-specific terms and expressions, and societies and associations requiring specific education, training and understanding to access.

  The battle to open the doors of scientific inquiry to the non-scientist hoping to lift the veil of mystery surrounding scientific inquiry has raged since humans discovered the power of knowledge and the benefits of secrecy, a battle that has intensified with the increased refinement and specialization of all scientific disciplines.

  Today, the god-like power being wielded by scientists, corporations and institutions is presently beyond the comprehension and understanding of the human intellect, despite what the human ego maybe telling us.  Maybe with time, if we survive our own devices, we may develop the ability to truly comprehend what we witness in a logical, rational, and non-emotional way, at least in the beginning of new inquiries.

  The desire of scientists and corporations to hide their discoveries is certainly rooted in fear of misunderstanding and non-comprehension; humans fear what they don’t truly comprehend.  Just as the human need to understand and ultimately manipulate nature is human fear and insecurity of the unknown at work.  Fear has been and is still a powerful force that shapes the human mind and choice, a tool that can destroy life or create it, that if used constructively with logic and rationality, maybe able to help save us from ourselves.

  Monsanto Corporation’s discovery of hidden scrolls detailing the process to produce synthetic recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), in 1994, has enflamed the battle between corporations and organizations dedicated to unveiling the mystery around many of today’s “discoveries”, by attempting to thwart attempts by consumers groups to provide consumers interested in trying to understand the facts surrounding these discoveries, with the information to make their own determinations about the safety of products obtained from today’s scientific discoveries.

  Since 1994, Monsanto’s synthetic replacement for naturally occurring BST protein hormone cows, rBGH, has become widely accepted and used as a management tool to increase dairy cow production.  In 2007, of the 9 million cows in the United States, approximately one third, are in herds supplemented with Monsanto’s Posilac bovine somatotropin.  Posilac is currently sold in all 50 states and to meet growing world wide demand for Posilac, Monsanto has sought and received FDA approval for a new multi-million dollar manufacturing facility in Augusta, Georgia.

  Customer approval ratings have been excellent, with dairy farmers using Posilac reporting thirteen years of continuous use, with no “recorded” or “registered” problems with the synthetic product.  In fact, they attest to Posilac’s efficacy in increasing dairy cow production in their herds.

  To date, products produced by dairy cows enhanced with rBGH aren’t labelled as produced by hormone-enhanced cows.  But recently, farmers choosing not to supplement their herds with Posilac decided that it was time to “tell the world”.  They began drawing up plans to label their dairy products as produced from cows not supplemented with Posilac, a normal business undertaking, and then announced their undertaking to the world, it was at this time their idea got caught up on a snag that wasn’t there before they decided to implement their new labelling plans.

  In stepped “Big Brother Pennsylvania State to inform these farmers that the state would impose a February 1^st, 2008 ban on farmers labelling their dairy products as obtained from cows not supplemented with Posilac.   The motivations of such a decision leaves much for the imagination to play with, a misguided attempt to protect little brother-consumer from some unseen danger.  Certainly, there is a danger of creating a two-tiered pricing system, where the non-hormone enhanced product is valued more, but is this really a danger or free market theory at work?

  In response to this decision, a messenger rode out of the low-sun on the horizon, carrying a letter for Pennsylvania State governor, Edward Rendell.  Signed, notarised and sealed for delivery by a coalition of 65 organizations protesting the proposed labelling ban as an attack on free speech, free markets, sustainable farming and the consumer’s right to know.  The coalition is currently resisting similar proposed bans by other states, their letter moved governor Rendell to state recently, “The public has a right to complete information about how the milk they buy is produced.”

  This came as he announced that Pennsylvania would accede to consumer advocates desire for the state to retract its announcement of a proposed ban on farmers labelling their products as produced from cows not supplement with Posilac.  By issuing new guidelines that allow dairy farmers to label their products as produced by dairy cows not supplemented with Posilac, a decision that is a victory for all consumers.