IPFS News Link • Food
Farmers and Seed Producers Launch Preemptive Strike against Monsanto
• dailypaul.comLawsuit Filed To Protect Themselves from Unfair Patent Enforcement on Genetically Modified Seed
Action Would Prohibit Biotechnology Giant from Suing Organic Farmers and Seed Growers If Innocently Contaminated by Roundup Ready Genes
(Excerpt)
“This case asks whether Monsanto has the right to sue organic farmers
for patent infringement if Monsanto’s transgenic seed or pollen should
land on their property,” said Dan Ravicher, PUBPAT’s Executive Director.
“It seems quite perverse that an organic farmer contaminated by
transgenic seed could be accused of patent infringement, but Monsanto
has made such accusations before and is notorious for having sued
hundreds of farmers for patent infringement, so we had to act to protect
the interests of our clients.”
Once released into the environment, genetically modified seed can contaminate and destroy organic seed for the same crop. For example, soon after Monsanto introduced genetically modified seed for canola, organic canola became virtually impossible to grow as a result of contamination.
Organic corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa also face the same fate, as Monsanto has released genetically modified seed for each of those crops as well.