Organic Farmers Sue Monsanto Over Genetically Modified Seeds

Few corporations hold a reputation as evil as Monsanto's. The Big Ag behemoth is behind such catastrophic inventions as Agent Orange, DDT, PCBs, and most recently, genetically modified (GM) seeds. How the company is even still in business after decades of mucking up the environment and our health is beyond me — but I digress.

If organic farmers get their way, though, Monsanto won't wreak more havoc with its GM crops. Yesterday, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed a lawsuit against Monsanto on behalf of a group of seed businesses, organic agriculture operations, and more than 60 family farmers. The plaintiffs sued preemptively to prevent Monsanto from going after them for patent infringement should their organic seeds become contaminated with Monsanto's GM canola, soy, cotton, corn, sugar beets, and alfalfa.

The preemptive strike is certainly warranted: Monsanto has a history of suing farmers — even the little guys! — for patent infringement. The worst part is that oftentimes this "infringement" isn't even farmers' faults. GM seeds' DNA makes its way over to organic and conventional crops through processes like pollen transfer — through no fault of the small farmer — yet Monsanto holds these parties accountable for infringing upon the company's patented, GM technology.

“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," said Dan Ravicher, executive director of PUBPAT, in a press release.

And if you know anything about Monsanto's GM, Roundup Ready crops, you know that contamination is the name of the game. According to the Cornucopia Institute, since Monsanto released its GM canola, organic canola virtually went extinct. Ninety-three percent of all soybeans grown in the U.S. are genetically modified, while the recent deregulation of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa threatens to cripple the organic alfalfa, dairy, and meat industries.

That's where this lawsuit comes in. By standing up for farmers who want their crops grown free of modified genes, PUBPAT and the plaintiffs it represents are attempting to stop Monsanto from monopolizing America's agricultural fields.

"Organic farmers have the right to raise our organic crops for our families and for our customers on our farms without the threat of invasion by Monsanto's genetic contamination and without harassment by a reckless polluter," said Jim Gerritsen, a family farmer in Maine, in a press release. "Beginning today, America asserts her right to justice and pure food."

If a judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, this lawsuit will protect farmers from patent infringement charges. It won't, however, prevent the contamination of organics or consumers' right to choose non-GMO foods. You can help get Monsanto's Roundup Ready crops out of our food supply by signing Food & Water Watch's petition. The campaign asks the Obama administration to stop greenlighting Monsanto's GM crops and start looking out for consumers, organic farmers, and the environment.

Photo credit: Vato Bob via Flickr