Amidst Lawsuits and Financial Loss, China Finally Approves Syngenta GMO Corn
As several farmers and grain handlers file lawsuits against Syngenta, one of the largest corn markets in the world – China – has finally approved Syngenta’s Viptera strain of GMO corn for consumption in the country.
The Syngenta Corn GMO lawsuits allege that Syngenta misinformed farmers and grain exporters regarding China’s willingness to import the Viptera strain of GMO corn. Seeds for the corn were sold to industrial farmers in the US in 2011, and when the corn matured and was ready to ship in 2013, China refused shipments after finding Viptera corn. This meant that farmers in the US, as well as grain exporters like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, lost billions of dollars in revenue due to misrepresentation from Syngenta.
However, China just approved the corn and on Friday, December 12th, Syngenta announced the country’s approval and acceptance of Viptera shipments. Syngenta representatives added that the company would release official documentation stating China’s legalization of the GMO corn when they received copies.
As China approved Viptera corn, however, a federal judicial panel approved consolidation of the Syngenta corn lawsuits in Kansas. A study by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) estimated that US exporters lost up to $2.9 billion when China denied the initial Viptera shipments in November 2013. The class action lawsuit involves over 100 individual farmers who grew Viptera GMO corn from Syngenta, as well as ADM and Cargill.
China has yet to approve a similar strain of corn, called Duracade. Both Duracade and Viptera were approved for use in the United States in 2010. Syngenta is focused upon the business of researching, developing, and selling genetically engineered corn. Syngenta genetically modified seeds are approved for use in the United States. Syngenta MIR162 was first developed in 2009. Syngenta’s Agrisure products are genetically engineered to protect corn against insects, to be tolerant to herbicides, and allow for water optimization.
Corn farmers in South Carolina and beyond grow and harvest corn to be sold in a commodity-based system. In other words, the corn grown by an individual farmer will be gathered, commingled, and consolidated with that produced with thousands of different farms and passed through local, regional, and terminal distribution centers. US Corn sitting in a terminal distribution center is then shipped to foreign markets through exporters. To maintain the integrity of the corn, it is essential that exported shipments are free of contamination so that they are not rejected by trade partners outside of the United States.
The Strom Law Firm Pursues Claims on Behalf Of South Carolina’s Corn Farmers Against Syngenta
If you or someone you love grew, harvested, and sold non- MIR 162 corn on a commercial basis, or if you received revenue from non-MIR 162 corn under a crop-share arrangement from November 2013 to now, you may be eligible to participate in a class action seeking to recover compensation for lost profits from Syngenta. The Syngenta Corn Lawsuit attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC offer a free consultation and flexible appointment times. Do not wait until it’s too late. Contact us today. 803.252.4800
