Syngenta® Allegedly Fails to Warn U.S. Corn Farmers of Cross-Pollination and Contamination Prevention
Syngenta corn lawsuits multiply as a result of the company’s alleged failure to warn U.S. corn farmers using their genetically modified corn seed about the effect of cross-pollination with other types of corn.
In 2011, Syngenta, a global agribusiness with a Minnesota-based U.S. headquarters, introduced Agrisure Viptera®, which contains a genetic trait designed to repel crop damaging pests. The company applied for approval of the new GMO product, referred to as MIR 162, in 2010 though response is still pending. Despite the outstanding approval, Syngenta® proceeded to sell their GMO corn strain to U.S. farmers without warning them of the procedures needed in order to prevent cross-pollination with other types of corn.
Seen as a contaminant to the corn, in 2013 China began rejecting shipments with traces of the Agrisure Viptera trait as well as another MIR 162 product called Agrisure Duracade™ and has since banned all U.S. imports of corn and corn products – even those that were not planted and sold with either MIR 162 trait.
Inability to import corn to China – the Unites States’ fastest growing market – has severely impacted the business of U.S. corn farmers. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal claims that “By one industry estimate, exports are down by 85% compared with last year.” Another report indicates that the U.S. has suffered nearly $2.9 Billion in economic losses due to widespread contamination of the corn supply.
