this post was submitted on 27 Mar 2026
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Using CRISPR-Cas9, scientists engineered a yeast to produce the nutrient feed. Farmers could have it in two years.

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[–] minorkeys@lemmy.world 82 points 2 days ago (5 children)

So they solved a problem we create ourselves, by destroying nature, by making a product that now increases the cost of food and makes farmers even more dependent on corporate chemical companies to grow it.

[–] Tharkys@lemmy.wtf 27 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Yep, you can't charge money in perpetuity if you solve the actual problem. Not only that, but bees will eventually become reliant on the product. This is how the US Healthcare system works as well.

[–] minorkeys@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Hell they might even genetically engineer them to be dependent on it.

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I bet the bastards have already wondered

"Hmm, if this works maybe we can do all life on earth next . . ?
"We'll make all the money!"

[–] Domitian@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Thats also how fertillizer works. Honey Bees are domestic Animals and require care to be usefull to us.

[–] HasturInYellow@lemmy.world 22 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

The GOOD news is that yeast doesn't really respect property lines. Or quarantines. Or much of anything. That shit will spread organically easily enough. It will be a while, but now that the strain exists (and is being constantly refreshed with the corpro product) it should help all bees everywhere. Maybe bees will start farming it like ants do. Would be fun

[–] minorkeys@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

So does Monsanto with their GMO crops and they successfully sue farmers for having it, whose farms were invaded by it. I don't see it as good news when a company can't control their IP. They'll criminalize possession and use that to drive weak competitors out all together. These people are psychopaths.

[–] HasturInYellow@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Forgive me, it's not good news that a company has it. That's evil and they will destroy people lives. BUT the yeast exists now. When we die out because we are unimaginably stupid, that yeast is likely to live on and help the bees to do so as well. The bees i more worried about because they don't love heat

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 2 points 2 days ago

That's a lot easier to do with plants than single celled organisms.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 6 points 2 days ago

Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland will be demanding a percentage of the farmer's crop because they saved the bees that pollinated it.

[–] emmy67@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

It's exactly the way they said drug dealers would work

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Yes but you see, now the solution is a product, and shareholders shall profit from its sale. Value where no value was before. Blessed be the capitalists.