On January 31, 2012 organic farmers will speak out against Monsanto in a New York City federal courtroom. The plaintiffs, which now number 300,000 from across the nation, intend to challenge both Monsanto's patents on genetically modified seed and their bully-like behavior with threaten organic farms.
Monsanto, a mega-corporation which according to its corporate website is "working to make agriculture truly sustainable," has a fierce reputation among small farmers in the United States and Canada. Take for instance, the case of Percy Schmeiser of Saskatchewan who, according to a 2002 Philadelphia Inquirer report, was ordered to pay 20,000 Canadian dollars when pollen from Monsanto canola blew into his field contaminating the seed. Despite the fact that Schmeiser did not even plant the seed, Monsanto sued for copyright infringement and won.
Yet Monsanto's far reach goes beyond making organic farmers lives miserable. According to the Organic Consumers Association's account of a meeting held in January 2011, Monsanto struck a deal with healthy grocery giant Whole Foods, which currently has seven high volume stores in Manhattan. OCA officials claim this boardroom handshake between Whole Foods and Monsanto effectively paved the way for genetically modified foods and made producing organic, unaltered seed crops more difficult for farmers and more expensive for consumers seeking organic foods. Whole Foods denies such deal was ever struck with Monsanto.
Yet, despite the odds, on January 31 2011, the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association is fighting back against the modern day Goliath. Jim Gerritson, President of OSGTA, wrote in a statement on the lawsuit:
"Monsanto’s threats and abuse of family farmers stops here. Monsanto’s genetic contamination of organic seed and organic crops ends now. Americans have the right to choice in the marketplace – to decide what kind of food they will feed their families – and we are taking this action on their behalf to protect that right to choose."
In support of the case, farmers and community activists intend to peaceably gather both inside the Manhattan courtroom and outside at Foley Square beginning at 9:00 am. Mr. Gerritson will address supporters on the progress of the case sometime during the day from outside the courtroom.
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