ChinaTalk GM Corn Smuggled in Popcorn Bags: An Industrial Espionage Parable
May 28, 2020
Mara Hvistendahl, a science journalist and author of "The Scientist and the Spy," sheds light on the intriguing world of Chinese industrial espionage. She discusses the ethical dilemmas faced by Chinese researchers under pressure to publish at any cost. The narrative dives into a gripping case involving GM corn smuggling and explores the complexities of the seed industry amidst corporate espionage. Hvistendahl also examines the contrasting perceptions of industrial theft and the implications of legal investigations on Asian American scientists, painting a vivid picture of espionage dynamics.
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Robert Mo's Unlikely Career Path
- Robert Mo, an engineer, struggled to find a job in his field after moving to the U.S.
- He got a job at DBN, a Chinese agricultural company, through family connections, despite lacking agricultural experience.
Seed Inequality
- Not all seeds are equal; some yield higher than others.
- Western companies produce high-quality, genetically modified (GM) seeds, which are expensive to develop but highly sought after by farmers.
The Seed Heist
- Robert Mo's boss at DBN devised a plan to steal seeds from U.S. companies.
- The plan involved posing as farmers, driving around the Midwest, digging up seeds, and sending them back to China in microwave popcorn bags.
