The arguments in the case that pitted organic farmers against mega-corporation Monsanto ended before noon on January 31 2012. A tweet from inside the Lower Manhattan federal courtroom stated that the judge announced she will render a decision by March 31 2012, leaving a 60 days to speculate on what will happen and if the lawsuit will be allowed to proceed in the David and Goliath federal case that challenges Monsanto's seed patents and litigious actions against organic farmers.
Outside the courtroom, Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Big Food and other advocacy organizations help up signs in solidarity with the organic farmers. According to a statement by Food Democracy Now, one of the rally organizers, the time was right to stand with farmers and against Monsanto and its tactics.
Monsanto’s seed monopoly has grown so powerful that they control the genetics of nearly 90% of five major commodity crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and sugar beets. In many cases farmers are forced to stop growing certain crops to avoid genetic contamination and potential lawsuits.
The impact of the courts decision, however, goes beyond the organic farmers involved in the lawsuit. According to Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for The Cornucopia Institute, without court protection, many organic farmers will continue to risk lawsuits resulting from genetically modified contamination of their non-Monsanto seed crops and may be forced to abandon seed re-use altogether, ultimately threatening organic crops and local organic farmers.
Inevitably, continued lawsuits against organic farmers and the cost of purchasing new seed each year will result in higher growing costs and prices for consumers seeking out organic and locally produced food in New York's farmer's markets and grocery stores. The federal judges March 31 2012 ruling on the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association vs. Monsanto, then, may well decide what organic and locally produced food is available and how much it will cost in farmers market and organic stands in the city and throughout the nation.
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