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  • From: Miranda Smith <miranda@tagoresmith.com>
  • To: gardenwriters-on-gardening <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [gwl-g] interesting press release
  • Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:32:35 -0500

I thought some people on this list might be interested in the following:

WASHINGTON - The Center for Food Safety released today an extensive review

of Monsanto's use and abuse of U.S. patent law to control the usage of
staple crop seeds by U.S. farmers. The Center (CFS) launched its
investigation to determine the extent to which American farmers have been
impacted by litigation arising from the use of patented genetically
engineered crops. Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers details the results of this
research, discusses the ramifications for the future of farming in the U.S.
and outlines policy options for ending the persecution of America's farmers.


"These law suits and settlements are nothing less than corporate extortion

of American farmers," said Andrew Kimbrell executive Director of CFS.
"Monsanto is polluting American farms with its genetically engineered crops,
not properly informing farmers about these altered seeds, and then profiting
from its own irresponsibility and negligence by suing innocent farmers. We
are committed to stopping this corporate persecution of our farmers in its
tracks."


The report finds that, in general, Monsanto's efforts to prosecute farmers

can be divided into three stages: investigations of farmers; out-of-court
settlements; and litigation against farmers Monsanto believes are in breach
of contract or engaged in patent infringement. CFS notes in the report that,
to date, Monsanto has filed 90 lawsuits against American farmers in 25
states that involve 147 farmers and 39 small businesses or farm companies.
Monsanto has set aside an annual budget of $10 million dollars and a staff
of 75 devoted solely to investigating and prosecuting farmers.


"Monsanto would like nothing more than to be the sole source for staple

crop seeds in this country and around the world," said Joseph Mendelson, CFS
legal director. "And it will aggressively overturn centuries-old farming
practices and drive its own clients out of business through lawsuits to
achieve this goal."


The largest recorded judgment CFS has found thus far in favor of Monsanto

as a result of a farmer lawsuit is $3,052,800.00. Total recorded judgments
granted to Monsanto for lawsuits amount to $15,253,602.82. Farmers have paid
a mean of $412,259.54 for cases with recorded judgments. Many farmers have
to pay additional court and attorney fees and are sometimes even forced to
pay the costs Monsanto incurs while investigating them.


"Monsanto is taking advantage of farmers with their marketing and their

threats and lawsuits," said Rodney Nelson, a North Dakota farmer sued by
Monsanto. "It's hard enough to farm as it is. You don't need a big seed
supplier trying to trip you up and chase you down with lawyers."


Farmers even have been sued after their fields were contaminated by pollen

or seed from a previous year's crop has sprouted, or "volunteered," in
fields planted with non-genetically engineered varieties the following year;
and when they never signed Monsanto's Technology Agreement but still planted
the patented crop seed. In all of these cases, because of the way patent law
has been applied, farmers are technically liable. It does not appear to
matter if the use was unwitting or if a contract was never signed.


Various policy options supported by CFS include passing local and

state-wide bans or moratoriums on plantings of genetically engineered crops;
amending the Patent Act so that genetically engineered plants will no longer
be patentable subject matter and so that seed saving is not considered
patent infringement; and legislating to prevent farmers from being liable
for patent infringement through biological pollution.


CFS has established a toll-free hotline for farmers facing lawsuits or

threats from Monsanto to get guidance and referrals: 1-888-FARMHLP.

A PDF of the report Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers is available to download at

www.centerforfoodsafety.org.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pam Browning
Policy Coordinator
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 306
Washington, DC 20002
Phone and Fax: 202-544-5466
Email: pam@sustainableagriculture.net
http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/






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