Organic farming groups lose biotech seed suit

  • A federal judge has ruled in favor of Monsanto, dismissing a lawsuit brought by U.S. organic farmers and seed dealers who said their industry is at risk from Monsanto's growing market strength.

From the Chicago Tribune:

A federal judge has ruled in favor of global seed giant Monsanto Co, dismissing a lawsuit brought by a consortium of U.S. organic farmers and seed dealers who said their industry is at risk from Monsanto's growing market strength.

U.S. District Court Judge Naomi Buchwald, for the Southern District of New York, threw out the case brought by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) and dozens of other plaintiff growers and organizations, criticizing the groups for a “transparent effort to create a controversy where none exists.”

The Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed the suit last March on behalf of more than 50 organizations challenging the agricultural giant's patents on its genetically modified seeds. The group wanted a ruling that would prohibit Monsanto from suing the farmers or dealers if their organic seed becomes contaminated with Monsanto's patented biotech seed germplasm.

For more, see: Monsanto prevails in suit brought by organic growers

Discuss this Article 2

Anonymous (not verified)
on Jun 8, 2012

Investigate the judge who ruled in favor of Monsanto regardless of the obviousness of their crimes. When something does not make sense, follow the $..

alexluther14
on May 1, 2013

Most of the farmers are now relying on organic farming methods for agriculture. They are provided with organic seeds for growing organic foods. The farmers have filed a case against Monsanto saying that its patent seeds can contaminate the organic seeds of the farmers. But the judgement was in favor of Monsanto and the judge stated that there is no controversy.plant foods

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