Seattle: About 40 protesters marched in front of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Friday to urge the organization to sever its ties with chemical manufacturer Monsanto Co.
KPLU-FM reports the Seattle protest was led by Agra Watch, a local group opposed to the Gates Foundation`s grants supporting research into genetically modified crops.
Agra Watch believes the crops will harm poor farmers overseas and that supporting Monsanto`s research only works to advance American agri-business interests.
Monsanto is the world`s leading manufacturer of genetically modified seeds, bovine growth hormone and Round-Up.
The man who heads the foundation`s agriculture program says there are a lot of misconceptions about what the organization is trying to do to improve farming in poor countries.
Roy Steiner says the foundation has put only a small amount of its development grants into genetically modifying seeds.
Bureau Report
