Main content
'Terminator technology' sows Seeds of Doubt
Terminator technology and other controversies surrounding agricultural seed production
Terminator technology – genetic engineering of plants to set sterile seed, so forcing farmers to buy seed instead of harvesting their own – has been patented but is not yet on the market. Another example of controversial genetic use restriction technology (GURT) is research into beneficial crop traits that can be turned on only by an expensive chemical 'switch'. Plus, how one company physically sorts more than 200 types of seeds.