St. Louis, Missouri
May 3, 2007
Company considering appeal of
decision that restricts farmer choice and productivity
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is disappointed with the
decision of the U.S. District Court, for the Northern District
of California to not allow farmers to resume planting Roundup
Ready alfalfa until the U.S. Department of Agriculture completes
an environmental impact statement. Roundup Ready alfalfa that
was planted by March 30, 2007 can still be grown, harvested and
sold as forage.
The injunction was issued by the
court following a lawsuit brought by the
Center for Food
Safety and others against the USDA as Geertson Seed Farms,
Inc. et. al v. Mike Johanns, et. al. Monsanto Company petitioned
the court to become a party in the case to defend grower choice
to use the technology. The company is reviewing its options,
including the possibility of an appeal of the court’s decision.
Despite previous acceptance that
Roundup Ready alfalfa posed no harm to humans and livestock, the
court upheld its decision that the USDA did not adequately
follow procedural requirements as detailed by the National
Environmental Policy Act before deregulating Roundup Ready
alfalfa. Under the Plant Protection Act the court maintained
that prior to deregulation of Roundup Ready alfalfa the USDA
would have to prepare an environmental impact statement in place
of the environmental assessment that was completed.
To support its argument that
growers should have continued access to the technology, Monsanto
presented its extensive regulatory and environmental studies on
Roundup Ready alfalfa. It also described successful stewardship
practices that allow the coexistence of organic, conventional
and Roundup Ready alfalfa. Other regulatory agencies around the
world, including Canada and Japan, have confirmed the
environmental safety of Roundup Ready alfalfa.
One of the plaintiffs’ claims
against Roundup Ready alfalfa was that it would cross-pollinate
with organic alfalfa. Monsanto Company and Forage Genetics
International have shown that with proper stewardship and
planting the two types of cropping systems can successfully
coexist. This is supported by various academic studies and real
life examples. In fact, Don Cameron, a Helm, California, farmer
grows a number of organic and biotech crops including organic
and Roundup Ready alfalfa. “Proper stewardship makes it possible
to grow both organic and biotech crops. We’ve successfully
accomplished this for nearly a decade on our operation and plan
to continue,” Cameron stated.
"The last decade has shown that
biotech and organic crops have successfully co-existed," said
Jerry Steiner, executive vice president for Monsanto Company.
"We support a farmer's right to choose biotechnology, organic or
conventional crops with the proper stewardship practices that
make coexistence feasible. We have heard from farmers across the
country who are disappointed they can't access this technology."
The
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), a voluntary farm
organization, filed a friend-ofthe-court legal brief outlining
the organization's stance. AFBF contends "that a peaceful
co-existence can be achieved” through implementation of the
USDA's precautions contained in its proposed order.
AFBF submitted the brief to
provide information to the court regarding the relative harm a
permanent injunction would likely impose on farmers who wish to
plant Roundup Ready alfalfa. Monsanto licenses its traits for
Roundup Ready alfalfa to
Forage Genetics International who sells Roundup Ready
alfalfa seed.
Monsanto Company is a leading
global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural
products that improve farm productivity and food quality.
Roundup Ready is a registered
trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. |
