On January 31, 2012, a federal judge in New York heard a variety of testimony regarding Monsanto's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Assocation (OSGATA) and 83 farmers.
According to Food Democracy Now, a non-profit organization that strongly supports organic farmers and OSGATA, the organic and farmily farm community had a strong showing at the hearing in federal court. The courtroom was "standing room only."(OSGATA)
During the hearing, Monsanto was asked about its policy of suing farmers whose crops were contaiminated by cross pollination and asked by the plaintiffs to cease that practice in the case of accidential cross pollination. According to the OSGATA press release,
Monsanto refused this request and in doing so made clear that it would not give up its option to sue contaminated innocent family farmers who want nothing to do with Monsanto's GMO technology.
A judicial decision will be issued by March 31st on Monsanto's request to dismiss.
What is unsettling is the background information. According to Food Democracy Now, 'Monsanto took 144 farmers to court betwen 1997 and 2010 and settled out of court with over 700 more.'
Monsanto actually has a page on its website explaining why it sues small farmers who save seed. That page emphasizes that when farmers buy its seed, they sign an agreement to protect Monsanto's patent. On other pages, Monsanto talks about seed piracy. Nowhere on the page are crop contamination and cross pollination noted as concerns.
For thousands of years, humans have saved seed and cultivated without the benefit of nano-technology and gene-splicing. Now, it appears that one has to be sure that no legal agreement exists before saving a seed. Is something wrong with this picture?
More reasons to buy organic, locally-sourced food.
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