Post

Organic groups will appeal Monsanto ruling

A group of organic farmers and seed dealers has filed notice it plans to appeal a judge’s decision in their suit against Monsanto. The group challenged Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seeds and technology alleging the company could sue farmers for violating those patents if pollen from gm plants drifted and contaminated non-gm plants. U.S. District Court Judge Naomi Buchwald in the Southern District of New York threw the case out last month calling it an “effort to create a controversy where none exists.” The group is seeking review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington D.C.

Monsanto has brought suits and won judgments against farmers who willingly used Monsanto biotech seed without paying royalties but the company never has and says it never will bring suit against use caused by inadvertent contamination.