Judge Issues First-Ever Death Sentence for Genetically Modified Crops

A judge recently put a notorious offender on death row. It wasn't a murderer nor a rapist nor a criminal of any kind — it was an unsanctioned, genetically modified (GM) sugar beet created by the biotech firm Monsanto.

In a historic ruling, Federal District Judge Jeffrey S. White ordered the immediate destruction of hundreds of acres of sugar beets in Oregon and Arizona. While farmers technically got the OK from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) before putting the Franken-beets in the earth, White said the USDA had no business issuing permits to plant Monsanto's Roundup Ready sugar beets in the first place. This is the first time a judge has ever ordered the destruction of a GMO crop.

The USDA was way out of line in allowing seed farmers to plant these GM beets. Understanding just how unruly the USDA's behavior was first requires bit of back story. Several months ago, the USDA approved Monsanto's GM, Roundup Ready sugar beets without first conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), an analysis of the socioeconomic and environmental costs associated with planting this kind of crop. In August, Judge White said the USDA acted illegally in giving Roundup Ready sugar beets the green light and informed the agency that it needed to conduct an EIS. That was strike number one.

Immediately after the ruling on the EIS, the USDA pretty much flipped Judge White a big, metaphorical bird and started issuing planting permits anyways. The USDA claimed that this flagrant disregard for Judge White's ruling was OK because farmers were merely growing the crops that would provide the seed for GM sugar beets. Planters in Oregon and Arizona rushed to put the Franken-beets in the ground, thinking they could produce the seeds before any legal action was taken. That was strike number two.

A coalition of environmental groups led by the non-profit Earthjustice quickly sued the USDA for its total and complete non-compliance with Judge White's ruling. Yesterday, the groups — which include the Center for Food Safety, Organic Seed Alliance, High Mowing Organic Seeds, and Sierra Club — got the response they were looking for. Judge White wasn't pleased with the USDA, and he mandated that all of Monsanto's Roundup Ready sugar beets be immediately ripped from the ground and destroyed. Looks like someone does have the cojones to knock Big Ag down a few pegs.

"USDA thumbed its nose at the judicial system and the public by allowing this crop to be grown without any environmental review," Paul Achitoff, an Earthjustice lawyer, said in a press release. "Herbicide-resistant crops just like this have been shown to result in more toxic chemicals in our soil and water. USDA has shown no regard for the environmental laws, and we're please that Judge White ordered the appropriate response."

Hopefully Judge White's firm stance will push the USDA to break off its unholy alliance with Big Ag corporations like Monsanto. You can help steer the misguided agency in the right direction by signing Earthjustice's petition asking the USDA to withdraw its proposed approval of GM sugar beets. You can also sign Change.org's letter reminding the USDA that it has an obligation to conduct a thorough Environmental Impact Statement before approving any GM crop, including sugar beets.

Photo credit: barackschlos via Flickr