News

Class-action suits filed against Syngenta

Class-action lawsuits have been filed by farmers against Syngenta for its release of the MIR162 or Agrisure Viptera genetically modified corn.  The suits filed in federal courts in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska allege Syngenta destroyed the Chinese market for U.S. corn.  The plaintiffs seek at least $1 billion in damages and also want to prevent the further cultivation and marketing of MIR162 or Viptera. 

The suits, coordinated by Washington D.C. law firm Hausfeld LLC, are open to all farmers who did not grow Viptera corn since China began rejecting it in November of 2013.

Last month Cargill and Trans Coastal Supply Company each filed suits seeking damages from Syngenta for lost export business due to the genetically modified corn not being approved by China. 

In a statement, Syngenta says it “believes the lawsuits are without merit and strongly upholds the right of growers to have access to approved new technologies that can increase both their productivity and their profitability. The Agrisure Viptera® trait (MIR162) was approved for cultivation in the U.S. in 2010. Syngenta commercialized the trait in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements. Syngenta also obtained import approval from major corn importing countries. Syngenta has been fully transparent in commercializing the trait over the last four years.”