Playing God in the Garden-Planting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Playing God in the Garden-Planting - Essay Example Biotechnology foods may be unnerving to some, but in our quest to feed the world at an affordable cost we need to make some trade offs. Pollans article is a good common sense look at the subject. Nothing comes without a risk, but companies and investors that take that risk need to know that they are making a bet on their own reputation and their financial future. First of all, Bio-Toxin potatoes are not as unsafe as some of the chemicals used in conventional food products. With every new innovation in pest or weed management, there comes a risk of one-day discovering a long-term health effect. The age of chemicals introduced Alar, DDT, and Heptachlor as a miracle application that would produce more food at a lower cost. They were discovered to be extremely harmful to the ecology of our planet as well as our personal health. Socially, we reversed our direction and the industry developed safer products. Unlike the past, Monsanto needs to put its money where its mouth is in regards to its belief that the new genetically engineering approach is safe. Of course, when weve seen the results of tobacco, asbestos, and Enron, there are few reasons to trust a multi-national conglomeration with their reach. The public needs to hold Monsanto and the scores of other biotechnology companies financially and socially responsible for their products. The FDA and the EPA have passed the ball back and forth but have refused to get involved in the game. They have left it to the companies and they and their investors need to be aware that they will be held accountable. Past genetic engineering was slow and took generations to produce any results. 50 years ago, plant geneticists were crossing drought resistant soybeans with a variety that was resistant to mold. After generations of selection, they had a new variety that had the mold resistant gene. Today, this is done in a petri dish in a fraction of the time. There is little difference in the two

Business Taxation. See uploaded guidlines Essay

Business Taxation. See uploaded guidlines - Essay Example Research and development (R&D) tax credits are a company tax relief which can either reduce a company’s tax bill or, for some small or medium sized companies, provide a cash sum’. Through a different definition it is noticed that ‘Research and development tax credits are a company tax relief which can either reduce a company’s tax bill or, for some small or medium sized companies, provide a cash sum; the R&D tax credit works by allowing companies to deduct up to 150% of qualifying expenditure on R&D activities when calculating their profit for tax purposes’ (The Small Business Portal, 2006). It should be noticed that the above scheme can lead to the benefits stated above only if specific terms and requirements are met (as it will be explained below). The benefits offered by this scheme to firms across the country can be differentiated. Specifically for small businesses it is noticed by the UK HM Revenue and Customs that the particular scheme can lead to a reduction of the tax bill up to a percentage of 15%. On the other hand, it is also supported that ‘some SME companies not in profit can surrender their R&D tax losses for cash (in the form of a payable credit) of up to 24p per  £1 of actual expenditure within specified categories’ (UK, HM Revenue and Customs, Small Businesses). The level of the benefit can reach up to a 100% of capital allowances for small firms that make a relevant capital expenditure. In order to understand the benefits offered for small businesses in UK under the particular scheme it is necessary to refer primarily to the definition of R&D scheme at least regarding its general characteristics. In this context, it is noticed that ‘broadly, in order to qualify, activities must be creative or innovative work in the fields of science or technology and undertaken with a view to the extension of knowledge and breaking new ground, whether that be through resolving some uncertainty or creating a new or substantially improved