Intellectual property rights (IPR) grant inventors monopolies in exchange for their socially valuable innovations, right to privatize plants, animals, and other forms of life. Monopoly control of plants is contributing to the destruction of food security and public interest research, as well as to the loss of biological diversity and ecological health. Genetic pollution indicates to the loss of identity of wild plant species as a result of transfer of genes from crop plants, with engineered fitness genes causing special concern. However, significant reproductive barriers exist between most wild species and crop plants. Gene flow is expected to have its greatest effect on weed species which are closely related to crop plant taxonomically, ecologically and in their reproductive biology. The introduction of genetically engineered (GE) organisms into the complex ecosystems of our environment is a dangerous global experiment with nature and evolution. Genetic pollution is undesirable gene flow into wild populations. The term is usually associated with the gene flow from a genetically engineered (GE) organism (or genetically modified organism - GMO) to a non GE organism. "Genetic pollution" and collateral damage from GE field crops already have begun to wreak environmental havoc. Wind, rain, birds, bees, and insect pollinators have begun carrying genetically-altered pollen into adjoining fields, polluting the DNA of crops of organic and non-GE farmers. Once released, it is virtually impossible to recall genetically engineered organisms back to the laboratory or the field.
