During the Revolutionary War, the American long grain rice crop had been pillaged by English troops, and after the war the remaining stocks of short grained rice did not sell well on the global market.

Italy had tasty and valuable long grain rice, but seed stocks were banned for export, under penalty of death. Jefferson "toured" a northern Italian farm with a jacket made without bottom seams in the pockets. When no one was looking, he simply scooped up handfuls of Italy's genetic property, and dumped the loot in his coat. He was invited down to Rome, but feigned illness and high tailed it back to France. The seed stocks were shipped home, and there you have it.

Thats right, the early American economy, founded on genetic piracy!

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