Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

Please read below for details of a new report, Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers, just

released by the Center for Food Safety. Sincere thanks for your continued

support of the important food safety issues we work on.

 

Andrew Kimbrell

Executive Director

 

The Center for Food Safety released today an extensive review of Monsanto's use

and abuse of U.S. patent law to control the usage of staple crop seeds by U.S.

farmers. The Center (CFS) launched its investigation to determine the extent to

which American farmers have been impacted by litigation arising from the use of

patented genetically engineered crops. Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers details the

results of this research, discusses the ramifications for the future of farming

in the U.S. and outlines policy options for ending the persecution of America's

farmers.

 

" These lawsuits and settlements are nothing less than corporate extortion of

American farmers, " said Andrew Kimbrell executive Director of CFS. " Monsanto is

polluting American farms with its genetically engineered crops, not properly

informing farmers about these altered seeds, and then profiting from its own

irresponsibility and negligence by suing innocent farmers. We are committed to

stopping this corporate persecution of our farmers in its tracks. "

 

The report finds that, in general, Monsanto's efforts to prosecute farmers can

be divided into three stages: investigations of farmers; out-of-court

settlements; and litigation against farmers Monsanto believes are in breach of

contract or engaged in patent infringement. CFS notes in the report that, to

date, Monsanto has filed 90 lawsuits against American farmers in 25 states that

involve 147 farmers and 39 small businesses or farm companies. Monsanto has set

aside an annual budget of $10 million dollars and a staff of 75 devoted solely

to investigating and prosecuting farmers.

 

" Monsanto would like nothing more than to be the sole source for staple crop

seeds in this country and around the world, " said Joseph Mendelson, CFS legal

director. " And it will aggressively overturn centuries-old farming practices and

drive its own clients out of business through lawsuits to achieve this goal. "

 

The largest recorded judgment CFS has found thus far in favor of Monsanto as a

result of a farmer lawsuit is $3,052,800.00. Total recorded judgments granted to

Monsanto for lawsuits amount to $15,253,602.82. Farmers have paid a mean of

$412,259.54 for cases with recorded judgments. Many farmers have to pay

additional court and attorney fees and are sometimes even forced to pay the

costs Monsanto incurs while investigating them. " Monsanto is taking advantage of

farmers with their marketing and their threats and lawsuits, " said Rodney

Nelson, a North Dakota farmer sued by Monsanto. " It's hard enough to farm as it

is. You don't need a big seed supplier trying to trip you up and chase you down

with lawyers. "

 

Farmers even have been sued after their fields were contaminated by pollen or

seed from a previous year's crop has sprouted, or " volunteered, " in fields

planted with non-genetically engineered varieties the following year; and when

they never signed Monsanto's Technology Agreement but still planted the patented

crop seed. In all of these cases, because of the way patent law has been

applied, farmers are technically liable. It does not appear to matter if the use

was unwitting or if a contract was never signed.

 

Various policy options supported by CFS include passing local and state-wide

bans or moratoriums on plantings of genetically engineered crops; amending the

Patent Act so that genetically engineered plants will no longer be patentable

subject matter and so that seed saving is not considered patent infringement;

and legislating to prevent farmers from being liable for patent infringement

through biological pollution.

 

CFS has established a toll-free hotline for farmers facing lawsuits or threats

from Monsanto to get guidance and referrals: 1-888-FARMHLP.

 

To view the report

http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/Monsantovsusfarmersreport.cfm

 

To support the Center for Food Safety

https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=635

 

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