system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: if humankind has been selecting and breeding and cropping and, in general, manipulating, seeds for centuries—if not millenniums—manually, why do companies that just make the process faster and more automated and efficient, i.e. Monsanto, get so much hate?
gpt
The most valid argument against Monsanto is that they engage in some pretty severe business practices. Perfectly legal, but somewhat bullyish. Or at least it seems that way to detractors. They own the seeds, and the farmers who grow them in effect "rent" them. If any seeds from those plants are sold, or grown without Monsanto's consent, farmers face huge penalties and lawsuits. Because of their presence, most farms have to use Monsanto. There are not many good alternatives to the average farmer. This doesn't just exist on the micro scale, but continues on to their macro/international commodities presence. A sort of Wal-mart to farmers on the small scale, and a Goldman-sachs type of player on the global scale. Because they're American, they receive far more scrutiny from almost everybody.

The next reasonable argument against them is that they're being a little reckless. A little tough to argue, but there is at least a legitimate place for concern. Previous genetic manipulation took decades and centuries. The changes did not happen at scale. Now they're fast, and done across the globe. Even a small mistake can have huge consequences. So far they've done alright. Their business model does mean they take on a sizable amount of liability. That said, they're one of the largest corporations in the world, with a lot of political sway. Volkswagen got away with their false emissions numbers for years. What could Monsanto get away with, then? They receive a lot of attention, but they also have a lot of friends and influence.

Then you start getting into conspiracy territory. This takes the very reasonable concerns/criticism, and amps them up to eleven. Assumes malicious intent in Monsanto's practices, and tries to tie them to global hegemony. Some of the links are certainly there, but the connective tissue doesn't really hold.