The farmers allege that glyphosate, the popular Monsanto herbicide, caused them to develop cancer and that the company intentionally misled the public about the dangers of the world's most widely used herbicide.

The lawsuit was filed last Wednesday in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska. The farmers are seeking punitive damages, alleging defective design, failure to warn, negligence and breach of warranty.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup brand herbicide, which is advertised as being able to kill almost any weed. However, the company claims it is safe to use on food. Monsanto's Roundup Ready GMO seeds are designed to resist the chemicals so the plants can still grow after being sprayed.

The lawsuit also claims that Monsanto "concealed or systematically sought to discredit" research showing links between glyphosate and cancer and continues to do so.

"Monsanto championed falsified data and has attacked legitimate studies that revealed Roundup's dangers. Monsanto led a campaign of misinformation to convince government agencies, farmers and the general population that Roundup is safe. Its continuing denial extends to the date of this Complaint," the lawsuit states.